Present Day, Elemental Sanctuary, 25 minutes, 35 seconds remaining
"So Link gets away with the Four Sword, yet you remain." Vaati walks back to the entrance to the Elemental Sanctuary, glowering down at the meditating Impa. He glances up to the vacant pedestal where Link reforged the Four Sword. He smiles, oddly, with the event that transpired in his absence. "Nayru guided you here, I can see. She knew that Din and Farore would be powerless against me, and leaving Link alone will prove detrimental to their plans. The Goddess of Wisdom lures me away from Darunia, uses you as a defense for Link to bless his blade...yet you remain. Why?"
Impa, still in her meditating position, answers her enemy. "Why do you keep Her Majesty alive?"
"Ah, of course. See the truth, Sheikah." Waving his hand, Vaati produces an image in the air. Impa looks up and recognizes the picture as the throne room of North Castle. The image moves closer to the twin thrones and at the left hand of the left throne bows the stone form of Queen Zelda. Vaati enjoys the radiating heat of anger on Impa's face. "She lives, petrified by my magic. She's aware of everything I say or do. I can read her mind, I believe she can read mine. Ever since the war began I would hold conversations with her. She can't speak back, but her mind says lots of things. I told her about Link, about her daughter, about you… Do you wish to speak to her?"
Stumped by Vaati's suggestion, Impa astonishingly stares at Vaati. "What?"
"Do you wish to speak to her?" Vaati waves his hand some more, and while the image vanishes, from it appears the petrified Queen Zelda. She hovers between Impa and Vaati before the Wind Mage telekinetically pushes it towards the Sheikah. "Go on ahead. I give you my final mercy as I gave to Link over a week ago."
11 days ago, Rauru Town
"Why tell me this? You hope I will spare them?"
Link lowers his head. "You have won. You beat me. That's what you wanted all those years ago, to do what Ganon couldn't. You took over Hyrule, you defeated its protectors, and now you have two pieces of the Triforce. My daughter and her friends still fight against you, but your original goal is finally complete. Queen Zelda is gone. I am gone. You have won."
Vaati kneels before his old enemy, glancing first to the sky in thought before looking forward at Link. "Fine. On her blood, on both of their blood, I will not harm a hair on your family should they still live."
Link nods. "...Thank you."
"But before you go, there is one last thing I must share with you." Vaati stands up and steps back, waving his hand in the space between him and Link. A shower of light fills it before it takes form in the material of stone. Upon closer inspection, Link discovers that the stone is a statue of a woman. A very specific woman. If he wanted to believe his eyes, he would say he is looking at a very detailed statue of his Zelda.
"W-Why are you showing me a statue of-"
"Link?"
Link drops his jaw. Two rivers of tears form, his body shaking both from his failing body and his building emotions. He raises his hands to the statue's face, feeling the rough surface physically but mentally he feels her smooth milky skin. "Zelda?"
"It is me Link."
He didn't want to ask how it is possible. He didn't want to know how she was doing. Whatever questions about her imprisonment come up, he chooses not to ask. Instead, he tells her the most important thing on his mind, the one that retreats with her allies to the port city of Darunia. "Our daughter...she's incredible. Just like her mother in each and every way."
"She has your courage."
"Yes, yes she does… Zelda, I'm so sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry about. We were both blind to what was clearly in front of us. For the better, you stayed away. You lived your life, had yourself a family. Yes, I watched over you after all this time. I watched over our Zelda, Impa, Link, everyone. I just wish I could be there with you."
"I wish so too…"
The next few moments between Link and Zelda are quiet. Vaati stands a distance away until the silence becomes unbearable. He knows exactly what ends their discussion. Warping to Zelda's position, he slowly removes Link's hands from her.
"Why did you do it Vaati? Why did you let him speak to me?"
"Because...even though we were once enemies as Hero of Hyrule and Wind Mage, Link was once a friend of Vatis."
Impa is cautious to trust Vaati, but with Link's words about the queen actually being alive and Vaati presenting Her Majesty to her, she takes a leap of faith. So she speaks the first words of the Nocturne of Shadow. Only Zelda and Link know the entire phrase. "This is the melody…"
"that will draw you into the infinite darkness that absorbs even time."
Impa now stands up, placing her right hand on the longsword sheathed on her back. Red eyes of the shadows narrow at the sight of the red eyes of darkness. "I've said all I need."
"Barely a few words. Are you sure you don't have more?"
"I accepted once that she was dead, and even then I served her without question. That has not changed today. Whether or not I see Her Majesty once again in her true form means nothing if I fail Her Highness. To see who I called my sister, I will protect the one I call my daughter from you until the time comes she can stand before you herself. That time is close, Vaati."
Vaati smirks. "Good." He sends Queen Zelda away with a snap. Dark power surrounds him, rising to higher and higher levels. "Very well. Impa, our relationship has always been complicated. We've never really liked one another, but you… You really are obsessed with stopping me, aren't you? Ah, very well… I will have no more of you interfering with my plans! Let me show you true power!"
Darunia, 15 minutes, 32 seconds remaining
Horsehead saw the pillar of light pierce the ground from the heavens. He witnessed the barrage of beams eliminate his monsters one by one until the space between the pillar and the Imperials were several yards long. He didn't see what happened afterward, but when the Resistance began their rally, he knew someone showed up. Only two people could inspire the rebellion to go from retreating to attack, and one of them, provided by the Resistance resurgence, is still being guarded.
So when he spots the person (or to be specific, that person times four) responsible, and said person spots Horsehead, the equestrian warrior leaping from his perch to the ground. Link and his clones, having cleared the monsters around them, turn their attention to Horsehead. "I see you got a shiny new sword and abilities."
"I see stabbing you in the neck wasn't enough for you."
"Yes, yes, but let's run this down: I've beaten you twice now. You won based on a cowardly attack from behind. As far as I see it, you have nothing to boast for. I would step aside if I were you, or even better, go fetch your girlfriend for me. You got less than half an hour before His Majesty arrives."
Horsehead didn't know Vaati is in South Hyrule with Impa if that's even true at the moment. But if the Resistance's time is running out, that means Zelda needs to hurry. But until then, Link needs to stand his ground. He gets into his battle stance, signaling to Horsehead that he will not back down. To emphasize that point, he calls off the clones. "If half an hour is all I need to keep Zelda safe, for an hour and a half I will do so." Link leaps forward, slashing his sword. Horsehead makes a step back, narrowly dodging the tip of the Four Sword.
Horsehead swings his mace, Link blocking in time with his shield. He thrusts up with the Four Sword, Horsehead dodging again and stepping back to create some distance. Link takes out and throws his boomerang at Horsehead, yet the beast catches it, throws it on the ground and breaks it. He swings the mace, letting the spiky end fly loose towards Link. The Hero raises his shield, but even the durability of the Hylian Shield could not absorb the entire impact. The force that reverbs through Link is enough to knock him off his feet.
He lands inside a house, bouncing off a hard wall to his front. "Ahhh...damn." He tries to raise himself up, but as he gets to his feet, a flash of light is all he sees before pain envelopes his body and he's launched through the home. Grunting, he's helpless as Horsehead approaches through the building he blasted Link through, holding his mace upon his shoulder.
Link realizes that the Four Sword is gone. He reaches his hand out, hoping that it will come to him just as the Master Sword does. And speaking of his true companion, where is it anyway?
"I remember this. Three times I had you down on your back at my mercy. Now there's no Princess to save you, no ex-Hero to retrieve you, not a spring around to heal you. What are the chances that today will be the day you fall."
"Those chances drop every second you wait." Horsehead and Link face the road behind the former. There a spirit, feminine in appearance, hovers before the hero and the warrior. Horsehead, not taking any chances, unleashes the spiked ball, but the spirit dodges the ball, runs along the uncoiled chain, and kicks Horsehead in his face. The beast neighs in anger, checking for blood on his cheek.
Rubbing his red fingers, Horsehead leers at the newcomer Fi who now stands between her kneeling master and the Imperial. "Seems the help did arrive."
Link, now with the Four Sword in hand, glances at the spirit. "Who are you?"
"I am the spirit known as Fi. There is much to be said, however, the priority is to protect Her Grace." Fi turns her head a bit to get a look at Link, and though she's incapable of expressing emotion, she's capable of voicing it. "Her Grace will be up very soon."
Link nods, grimacing as his body reminds him of the hits he's taken. However, he ignores it and summons two clones behind him. Link realizes that there's no way he'll ever stand up to Horsehead alone. "Fi, do you fight?"
"Only in extreme circumstances in which the probability of failure is ensured. In this battle, I will take part." Link scoffs, annoyed that the spirit believes he will certainly lose against Horsehead.
"Okay."
"But if you desire for me to not take part, I will adhere to your wishes. However, know that the chances of you defeating Horsehead decrease 30 percent."
Link smiles. "I'll take it." Link and his clones race towards Horsehead, the Imperial impatiently awaiting the group. Violet Link arrives first, engaging Horsehead in sword to mace combat. Red and Green Links join in, forcing Horsehead to fight three Links at once. Masterfully Horsehead succeeds in doing so, impressing Link. Due to the mental strain, he exhibits in directing the movements of Red and Violet, Link can only have one clone attack at a time before he or the other makes a move. He does get Horsehead to move in a circle, positioning him between the Links and the unsuspecting Blue Link.
With a bomb arrow ready to release, Blue fires it. The three Links with Horsehead leap away, but before he could figure out why Horsehead feels the explosive impact behind him. Link watches as Horsehead's body bounces and slides down the stone road. Link turns to Fi, all four of him smugly crossing his arms. "Never tell me the odds."
"They've only risen 2 percent."
"Ah, screw you." The Links walk down the street towards where Horsehead landed. To Link's surprise, his enemy is not laying on the ground. "Where did you go?" Hairs raise on the back of Link's arms and neck. Following his instincts, Link looks up to a building on his right, where Horsehead stands upon. The beast hugs his torso, where blood can be seen leaking out of. Link landed a critical hit on his nemesis, enough to instill some pride. The wound Horsehead suffers is reminiscent of the one Link sustained back in Ordon, after all.
"You… I will admit, are a much better hero than you used to be. But your pride will be your downfall."
"Pride? We're just having fun, aren't we? We got like...20 minutes, right?"
"Fun?"
"Fun." Link twirls his blade, smirking. "But if you want me to be serious… Hiyah!" Link uses his hookshot to get some air. Nearly at the peak of his flight, his right hand glows and he directs it in the direction of Horsehead. Stunned initially by Link's leap, he tries to move but finds himself immobilized. Link summons his clones behind him and drags himself sword first towards Horsehead as a Triforce-shaped cage traps the beast. "Triforce Cage, Four Sword!" The clones attack, lacerating Horsehead's chest. Link makes the last attack, and with a strong cry, smites Horsehead this time by severing the head from the neck.
At the same time, Horsehead gets the last laugh. Link nearly separates the head from the neck when a powerful punch to the left side of his face knocks him back to the ground. Link cries out as he's blinded by both pain and the loss of sight around the left eye. Horsehead's dying body collapses on the ground beside Link, choking on blood but blissfully welcoming death with the fact that he grants the hero pain beyond imagination. The last thing the great warrior hears is the cries of his enemy, the concern from the sword spirit, and the eruption from the distance.
He turns towards that eruption, and in the darkness of night, a pillar of red and white light flies to the south.
Elemental Sanctuary, 13 minutes, 23 seconds remaining
Impa shields herself with a water shield to reflect Vaati's eye beams and fire blasts. She had defeated many of the beam-shooting orbs that fly about, but when one falls, another rises. She pushes out her hands, allowing the shield to spread away from her, taking out the orbs and the flames at once. She charges at the still form of Vaati and swings her blade for his torso. At one moment, he's there, the very next he's to her left, fist in her gut. In her shock, she catches the back of his right hand, in which the Triforce of Courage glows brighter than Power.
The Triforce of Courage makes its bearer a near-unbeatable fighter. It is the only reason those chosen by Farore in the past can make a stand against the bearers of Wisdom and Power. Link only channeled it when needed, but for the most part, he fought like a normal human. Vaati is using it alongside the Triforce of Power. Only another Triforce user is a match.
Vaati walks away from the downed Impa, and the man who just minutes ago was full of mirth and mercy is now the powerful, vile villain. What troubles her most is his collected demeanor. Not a single emotion is readable on his face. Is he focused? Does he truly believe so much in himself that he's beyond confident? Or is he feeling and, to deceive Impa, wears this blank mask? If that is so, she'll change it.
He grunts as Impa impales him through his chest. He gasps and drops to his knee as she walks to his front side. Her giant blade exits out the large, red, eye-shaped medallion. Taking hold of the tip, she pulls it towards her, and though part of her training is to avoid the pleasures of torture, Impa simply relishes the anguish on Vaati's face. "You may have the Triforce of Power and Courage, but death and pain are unavoidable. No matter how much of a god you think you are, you were born mortal and will die mortal. Even the gods themselves can be killed."
Vaati's breaths are slow and heavy. Impa is sure he won't die, not by a non-sacred blade, but this will slow him down. She looks to his right hand again, noticing that the Triforce's light is dim. She remembers part of the kids' tale of the events within the Temple of Time, in which Vaati forcibly took Courage and Power from a weakened Link and Ganondorf. She looks to her own right hand, where the sliver of Wisdom (possibly still hidden from Vaati's attention due to Zelda possessing the other seven-eighths). If Vaati can steal it from others, she can steal it back. Then somehow she shall return to Link and Ganondorf their respective Triforces and the day could be won.
She takes his right hand and begins to extract the Triforce. Vaati howls in pain and Impa sees the relic manifests in material form, poking out from his skin. "No! NO!" With her other hand, Impa moves her blade through Vaati's body again, and more of Courage and Power slide out of him. When most of it is out of Vaati, it begins to join with Impa. This enrages the Wind Mage. "I will...kill you!"
Impa's senses alert him too. Or maybe she paid them no attention until it is too late. Whichever the case, Impa reacts only in time to see a lone orb firing a beam, the call of her name, and the body that throws itself between her and the beam. At first glance, she doesn't recognize who saved her until the body lands on the ground, the scarf rolls off the head, and his deep cries of pain alert her. "Sheik?!"
In her distraction, she forgot all about taking the Triforce from Vaati. Using it to his advantage, Vaati reaches up to Impa's neck, clutching on to it like he was hanging to a rope for dear life. He pushes out her blade, despite the pain it puts him in and manages to rise to his feet and hoist her up. He takes her right hand, where the little piece of Wisdom resides, and with ease extracts it from her. However, it is more attracted to its home rather than Vaati, so it escapes the Elemental Sanctuary as a streak of light. Vaati chuckles. "To think all this time you had a part of Wisdom yourself. Had you not tried to take my Triforce I would have never known about this. To think that it will be you, Impa, who assists me in the birth of a brand new Hyrule. You as well, Sheik, the progenitor of my ascension eight years ago.
Sheik ignores Vaati, only looking to Impa. "Impa...I am sorry." Impa, barely able to breathe at the moment, shakes her head to reject his apology, to say he has nothing to apologize for. Though he can hardly breathe as well, Sheik manages to chuckle. "Then allow me to say this." He takes two left fingers, places them on his left eye, and brings them down to his cheek like a teardrop. After a short pause, he drags them down lower, right over his heart.
The gesture of fingers from eye to cheek is the Sheikah way of saying farewell. The second gesture is not officially Sheikah, but Impa understands it. Anyone that has ever been in love understands it. So while she isn't able to speak to him, and she can feel her consciousness slipping, Impa manages to tap her own heart.
That's the last time she sees her husband ever again.
Vah Naboris, 7 minutes, 42 seconds remaining
"Heh...heh…" Ghirahim breathes heavily as he crouches down to his knees. He faces up, licking the blood that seeps in the corner of his mouth with his snake-like tongue. Before him, Ganondorf lands on the flooring of Vah Naboris, walking with the pace of a threatening giant stalking a human. The Gerudo scowls as the Demon Lord stands up, then winds up a punch that lands on Ghirahim's nose. Ghirahim flys back, but not far. He laughs to himself as if he enjoys the punishment Ganondorf is giving him, readjusting his nose before standing up to the Gerudo King again.
It has been about 20 minutes since Ghirahim and Ganondorf began their battle, and in the last five, Ganondorf finally got Ghirahim near defeat. He grabs Ghirahim by his neck and slowly rises in the air, tightening his trachea. Ghirahim crackles despite the lowering intake of oxygen. Ganondorf, annoyed that his foe can still make anything but a squeal, throws Ghirahim on the ground like a rejected doll. Ganondorf lands over Ghirahim, growling as the Demon Lord's pitch gets higher. "What is so funny!"
Ghirahim buckles down on his laughter to manage a coherent sentence. "Irony! The irony of the present situation is what tickles me."
"Irony?"
"Yes! You, the son of Ganon, defends the daughter of Hylia. Your ancestors, mortal enemies, yet you defend her! Why, Ganondorf, why do you deny your blood's destiny to fight against hers?"
"Blood. Destiny. Fate. You consider me to share the same one as my ancestor who became Ganon, but you couldn't be far from wrong. I am not defending Zelda, but her dream, her wish of a better Hyrule for us all."
"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."
"The only fate I'll deny is that of the inner demon. The one you so want to draw out of me." Ganondorf twirls his blade downward, aiming it for Ghirahim's neck. "But I'll let you have this taste of it." Ganondorf thrusts his sword, yet to his surprise Ghirahim blocks it. Even more surprising is that fact he blocks it with the tips of his fingers. Despite overpowering Ghirahim for the last two minutes, the Demon Lord pushes back Ganondorf with overwhelming strength until he stands back up.
"As I said, there's a cruel irony in this situation." Ghirahim flicks his fingers, disarming Ganondorf complete and taking the sword in his hands. "This is such a fine blade. Made to be wielded by the successor to the Sage Gerudo, yet the Daemon Gerudo bears it. That's ironic." Ghirahim throws it away, out an opening in Vah Naboris that leads outside. Stunned by Ghirahim's performance, Ganondorf is vulnerable to the knife attack Ghirahim initiates. Gasping at the pain by the projectile in his abdomen, Ganondorf drops down to his knees. Ghirahim hums a tune to himself as he walks over to Ganondorf, wiping the blood off his wound and giving it a smell. "Ah, the smell of demonic power. Like dew in the morning. Thank you for playing, Ganondorf. Now you have gifted your people the certainty of decimation."
Ganondorf pulls the knife out and tries to attack Ghirahim with it, but the Demon Lord warps near the terminal of Vah Naboris. He smears the floor with Ganondorf's blood and begins to hum and dance. Attempting to heal his wound, Ganondorf watches the theatrics of the Demon Lord come to a cease and faces him with the happiest smile he's ever seen on the demon. "Oh, my dear friend, this is a terrific day. To think that just an hour ago, I was actually concerned about how this would end, yet while you battled your sister I had the most wonderful idea. You have the blood, you have the power, and I know the ritual. All I needed was to distract you until everything is ready and then take your blood. Fortunately, I didn't need to drain you dry so you can witness this miracle."
Ganondorf frowns. "What are you-" Ghirahim snaps his fingers, and a huge surge of dark magic overwhelms Ganondorf's senses. He sees a dark mass form from the terminal to the outside world.
"Ha ha ha! Here he comes! The beast, the devil, the eater of worlds! Go ahead, try and stop him! But can you, Demon King, stop Vah Naboris and the Imprisoned at the same time?" Ganondorf hears the Divine Beast make it mechanical cry and lowers itself into a sitting position and sees the red light of the targeting beam in the sky. Next, he hears a terrible roar that must come from the Imprisoned.
"You bastard."
"In five minutes, I might agree with you. Now you could try to stop Naboris now, but you'll have to get past me first. You go after my pet, there's no telling how long that'll take. Think you can block it again? Which will you choose, boy?"
Darunia, 6 minutes, 41 seconds remaining
The rally was a disaster. Link's return emboldened the rebels, and they have just begun to fight back when a powerful gale of ice and fire showed up. It ripped everyone it touched to either ash or to crushed ice. Despite the attempt Ralph and Oren made to quell the gale, given that fire and water as ice is within their powers of manipulation, they couldn't control it. It wasn't a spell; the tornado is directly controlled itself by an equally as powerful person as the Sages of Fire and Water.
Now only the Sages, Spryte, Error, Bagu, Auru, Elegant, Komali, Daruk. and nearly 15 percent of the remaining soldiers are alive, gathered around and within Daruk's home. Around them, the Imperial forces stand, halted by the reason the tornado was created. Ravio sits once more by a window in the house, looking not just out for the Imperials but also for Sheik, Din, Nayru, and Link. The Oracles have been out of contact for a long time and Link had gone off on his own. He could use his powers to find them, but with their enemy literally in front of them, trusts the gods with their safety.
"This is it." Ravio turns to Spryte, for the first time hearing dread come from the usually chipper fairy. Her glow is barely visible, just adding to the feeling she gives off. "It is over."
"No, it isn't."
"Yes, it is." Behind Ravio and Spryte leans Ralph on the wall. The young king, who never gives up, is metaphorically laying down his sword. Beside him, Oren and Hilda say nothing but their faces say it all. They have done all they could've, but nothing has worked. All they have done is lose today. No, no they haven't. Ravio bested Yuga. Ganondorf returned. They are two victories, small as it is, but victories.
"Zelda still is-"
"Zelda had her chance." Ralph cuts eyes at Ravio, his face scowling at the mention of the Hyrulean princess. "They have waited hours for her arrival, these men and women who give their lives for her. You go tell them that, Ravio. Tell them that their sacrifice will be paid for by a princess who probably won't show up at all. Give them that final hope as seconds waste away, as the doomsday clock runs out."
Ravio steps away from the window to Ralph. "Since when do you give up? I'm supposed to be the coward, you're supposed to be telling me to suck it up and tell me we still have a chance. Where is the Ralph I know?"
"Nayru?" Spryte's voice catches Ralph's attention. Alone he walks up to the window and Spryte directs him to the Oracle of Seasons, standing on a rooftop across from the mayor's home. He sees his beloved and she sees him.
"Nayru!"
Oren steps up to Ralph's side, getting a look at the blue-haired beauty. Now she had only known Nayru for a few days, but something about seeing the Oracle smile and show her teeth is unnerving. There's an underlying wickedness to this…"Ralph, that's not Nayru."
"What? No, you're wrong."
"Look closer." Ralph obliges, wanting to believe that Oren is wrong. Everything about Nayru now is how he remembers her. That's until he remembers that Din hadn't shown up yet either. He looks around for the second Oracle, still nowhere to be found.
"Nayru! Where's Din?" Nayru raises her arm and brings it down. Out of a hole in the sky comes down two blood-tattered forms, one a large, blue animal, the other a woman in red. Ralph's face metamorphosizes from complete confusion to painstaking realization to raging anger. That animal is Moosh, the woman Din. Both dead. And all the while, the Oracle of Ages laughs it up as the two carcasses drop on the ground between both sides.
"There they are, Your Majesty. As by who hands they died, you can blame me."
Oren was right, as she always is. Ralph's anger boils as tears fall from his eyes. It doesn't take much thinking to know just who 'Nayru' is. No one has a history with the Oracle of Sages as much as the Sorceress of Shadows.
"Veran!" Ralph reaches for his sword and tries to jump out the window, but Oren and Ravio restrain him. "Let me go!"
"Ralph, this is not smart at all."
"She's baiting you, Ralph."
"Then let me be baited!" Ralph pushes both of them off and runs for the door, only to be tackled to the ground by the appearing Auru. The young king tries to fight off the older general, but fails and eventually gives up. His angry grunts soon become a mumbling sob as Auru lifts off him.
The general turns to the other sages and fairy, addressing them on the current situation. "Link has returned alive, but his condition is...Horsehead got him. But Horsehead is down as well."
Hilda nods. "Oren might be able to help him. In the meantime, what are we to do?"
"Gerudo." Ravio, Oren, and Hilda turn to Spyrte, still facing the outside world. While their hopes were on a specific Gerudo, the three of them spot a young Gerudo woman standing beside the Veran-possessed Nayru. Fire and ice trickle down each arm, causing them to realize just who was responsible for the winds that tore the Resistance to shreds.
Then their leader shows up.
Vaati appears between Veran and the Gerudo, holding the limp body of Impa. The four gasp collectively, while Auru stares out much with a slightly calmer attitude. Ralph, now more composed, stands up and joins his friends. Outside, the rebels begin to step back in fear of the Wind Mage as he stretches out his arm, holding Impa over the edge of the roof. "Rebels, less than 15 minutes remain before I blow your pathetic resistance to dust. You have only one option, and that is to surrender your Princess Zelda."
Hilda turns to Ravio. "Where's Sheik? He went to assist Impa, right?" Ravio had just dowsed for Sheik before Hilda questioned him. He just couldn't bring himself to say the words explicitly, so he shakes his head.
Ralph sees him and slams his fist on the windowsill. "Dammit!"
Oren turns to the High General, hoping he has a plan. "What is your plan?"
Auru bows his head and sighs. "I don't have one. I hate to admit it, but I do not have a damn idea what to do. But I know what I will not order, and that's the surrender of the Princess."
"Neither will we." Elegant and Komali enters the room, joined by Error and Bagu from behind. The Calatian royal folds his arms, nodding to the four sages. "My people have not forgotten who sacked our kingdom and killed her favorite son. Calatia will not surrender Princess Zelda."
"The Great Sea will not surrender Her Highness either."
All eyes went to Ralph, but they knew his answer before he spoke it. "Do you even have to ask?"
"Good. Ravio, is Impa alive?"
"Yes. Barely, but yes."
Auru nods, then heads for the door. Gathering again at the window, the four sages and Spryte anxiously watch Auru tell the rebels to come inside. As the last of the rebels come in, Auru turns to Vaati, narrowing his eyes. "No matter what you do, you will never be my king."
"A shame. I went through all this hard work to prove myself to you, High General Auru Twilight."
"Sure you did. Now, if you want Princess Zelda, you will have to give us Impa. Alive."
"No. I don't trust you, Auru. You present Zelda to me first, then I shall turn over her guardian."
"Then we're at a crossroads." Auru turns to the house and begins to walk away. "We still have time to change our minds."
"No."
Auru stops, his hands forming fists as he faces Veran-Nayru. "No?"
"We have been somewhat merciful for three days," Veran-Nayru states, "and given you plenty of time to give us the Princess. Now your time is up." Veran-Nayru raises her hand skyward, alarming every rebel watching. "Divine Beast Vah Medoh, fire!" From its landed position on the east side of town, Vah Medoh fires a blue beam across the sky.
"Everyone!" The four Sages exit the home, and use their full might to produce beams of their own. The four combine into one and it impacts against Medoh's. However, all it does is slows it down.
"Hold it!"
"Don't let up!"
"We're...not going to stop it."
"We must continue to-ahhh!" The four sages were hit by a dark blast from Vaati, grounded in place as the destructive beam continue on its path. Still, they tried again, but by that moment, death is a certainty. Ravio looks to Hilda, and reaches over for her hand. Oren closes her eyes. Ralph turns his head to Veran-Nayru, remembering her true self. Auru turned to his longtime friends Bagu and Error, giving them a farewell nod. Their Resistance is at an end.
That is a certainty, until Auru sees a golden light shoot out from within the house. It flies towards the descending beam, holding it back but with some struggle. Being the sole witness of the five rebels outside Daruk's home, Auru calls out to the Sages. "Sages, attack the beam again!"
Oren is first to her feet, noticing the golden light holding the beam back. "The moment we've waited upon is here! Waters, flow through me!" Blue light surrounding her, she fires a powerful blue beam to assist, then turns to her friends. "We must aid her!"
Ralph nods as he stands and arcs his hands to his side. "She better not disappoint after all this time. Fire, spread your heat through me!"
Hilda joins in. "This is our final shot. Shadows, surround me with your power!"
"We place our hope on you. Forest, grant me the power of life to save ours!" The powers of Water, Fire, Shadow, and Forest joins with the light and collides again with the Divine Beast's beam. The combined forces of Medoh, the Sages, and the light's attack causes an explosive reaction in the air, just hundreds of feet above the city.
Drained, each of the sages drops to the ground, proud of their achievement. Only Ralph has enough strength to speak words, and he directs them to Vaati. "You got her, you purple asshole."
Vaati
To his admittance Vaati is impressed. He expected she would show up if he actually went out with his threat, and after hearing what Ganondorf did in Mido Town, he's glad to see she comes close to the Gerudo.
The light falls away from the west side of the city, towards the southern plains. Eager to get the battle he has patiently waited for since they first met inside Midoro Palace, Vaati turns to his queen and daughter. "Retreat all forces. Return to North Castle."
Veran-Nayru smiles. "Very well. Have fun."
"I shall, for once this is over, the world shall be ours." Taking a step back, the Wind Mage vanishes from the city and appears in the plains. He looks up, the light swirling in the air before making its descent a few yards ahead of him. It lands, and though it is bright, Vaati can see her. Her attire is much different, now in a lavender-light pink dress designed for combat. Golden plates cover her breasts, shoulder, and hips. Golden arm braces line her lower arms, and armored boots cover most of her legs. At the top of her forehead, a small but decorative tiara rests there. It is the crown that Vaati sets his eye on before looking to her right hand. With the piece from Impa returned, the full Triforce of Wisdom shines before him, resonating with Courage and Power.
He looks to her face, smirking. Yes, this is it. He senses it within her, the Light Force, the latent power of the bloodline of Hyrule. He smiles, waiting for her to take her own weapon out. He expects the rapier strapped to her side. However, she reaches for her back, retrieving the purple winged hilt of the sword that seals the darkness. He does not expect the Master Sword, nor for the blade itself to have a brilliant shine to it as well. It never resonated as such with either Links. Now faced with an unexpected challenge, Vaati speaks to her. "It is about time, Princess Zelda."
"Let Impa go." Vaati had nearly forgotten he had Impa still with him, now in a telekinetic hold. Granting her wish, Vaati waves his finger, bringing Impa close to him.
"I shall." Surrounding his hand with magic. Vaati swings for Impa's neck, but as he comes close, Impa's body vanishes. He loses his footing in his surprise for a moment before searching around him, then turns to the motionless Zelda. "What did you do?" Zelda says nothing, angering Vaati enough to initiate an attack. Yet as he got close to Zelda, she vanishes, leaving him to swing through the air. She reappears behind him, turning her head to face the confused Wind Mage. He tries again, only for her to vanish and reappear behind him, grazing him with the Master Sword across his abdomen.
Staggering, Vaati drops to his knees, grimacing as he looks up to the glowing Princess of Hyrule. Something has changed. This is is beyond the Light Force and the Triforce of Wisdom, which her mother had. This is...almost divine. With realization, Vaati curses himself.
He had unleashed the Mortal Goddess.
Sanctuary of the Goddesses
Farore looks up from the crystal orb the goddesses look down on earth with to the Goddess of Wisdom, curious to her thinking. "This is why you didn't confront him, Nayru?"
"Yes Farore, though I will admit it was a gamble. Yet...because of it, she has returned." Nayru turns to Din, smiling a bit. "Wouldn't you agree, sister?"
"Vaati thought meddling with us will grant him a fight against us goddesses, he faces one now. Because of him, she has returned." Din's mouth stretches into the widest grin she believes she ever made in her long-lived life. "That glow...that power...the will to protect the world...it may look like Princess Zelda, but the blood that runs through is Hylia. Welcome back, little sister...and you too, Demise. Save Hyrule, both of you. The hope of your blood is all we can count on now."
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