The Legend of Zelda: Youths Chosen By The Goddesses

Part 4: The Contested Throne

Two nights have passed since the Battle of Darunia. The Resistance is only nine people strong, but their spirits are broken after the deaths of their allies.

While Princess Zelda and her allies mourn, Vaati and the Imperials prepare for a final bout. With five nights remaining until the Triforce regains the ability to grant a wish, the King of Hyrule begins to reminisce a time long past.

Meanwhile, known to Vaati yet unknown to Zelda, Hyrule's greatest evil prepares to reveal himself...


18 years ago

North Castle is in disarray.

One moment, there was peace, a silent celebration of the new life entering the world. The recently wedded queen giving birth to a child, to whom the newly crowned king is not the father of. The child, at the current moment, is still unnamed, but if tradition is to take place, her name is to be the same as her mother. The queen holds her child, looking at her best friend and her guardian with happy tears.

Elsewhere in the city, a soldier sits with his wife and his infant child, letting the babe wrap his small fingers around one of his calloused fingers. A swordsman, he tells his wife, his son will become. The greatest, his wife says, greater than his father. For he is named after a great friend of the father, a hero to the world.

To the far east, another king holds his infant son. While others see a son born unnaturally out of a cycle, he instead sees his people's future. The union of a divided people, the conqueror of a blood curse, a king greater than he. A woman walks in, not his queen but his child's aunt, the ruler of the other sect of his people. She holds a baby girl, her emerald eyes looking at the gold eyes of the prince. They, one day, will be the hope of the Gerudo.

In the parents' eyes, they all saw a bright future for their children. None of them thought today would be the beginning of the shadow's reign.


Vatis steps slowly down the long chamber that is the throne room of North Castle. He takes little time to look at the destruction around it, keeping his focus on the small assembly at the other end of the room. There, a tall woman in black holds her hand before a defeated elder. Behind the standing woman, a man in golden armor and a group of Red Moblins try to move the thrones. Vatis chuckles as he arrives at the gathering, allowing himself to confront the fallen woman. "Impaz, my dear Impaz. Well done Veran and Onox, you fell the mighty leader of the Sheikah."

The aged Sheikah looks up to Vatis, her breath hitching as she moves. "Ah, so now this makes perfect sense. Link's timely disappearance, these monsters, Veran and Onox leading them, I knew there had to be a higher power. It so happens to be the man we chose as king."

Veran steps to Vatis' side, gesturing to the unmoved throne. "The path is sealed tight. Are you sure this is the correct way to the Sacred Realm? Why not the Temple of Time?"

"The Temple of Time was invaded by Ganon back when he terrorized Hyrule. If I am Daphnes and Zelda, I would keep the Triforce close at hand. Agahnim must have known that too, for he never attacked Rauru either. It is here Veran." Vatis kneels to Impaz's level, taking her chin in his hand. "You know, I haven't seen Zelda all day. Even in this chaos, she has no presence. Why is that, Impaz? Where are you hiding my queen?"

Impaz chuckles. "Ah, you fool."

"Fool?"

The laughing stops, replaced by a warning tone. "You fool. Do you seek the power of the gods? Do you know what will happen if you let it return to our world? There's a reason we keep it in the Sacred Realm. Do you know what will happen if you kill Link and Zelda?"

"Yes, I do. Hyrule becomes mine. Thank you for telling me that, Impaz." Vatis swipes his hand in front of Impaz's neck, a dark magic blade from his hand severing her head from her torso. As the corpse of the Sheikah spurts blood, Vaati stands and steps to the twin thrones of Hyrule. Testing his blessing as Hyrule's king, he pushes the wall that holds the seats in place. It gives way, sliding to the side and revealing a secret pathway. Golden light showers the king's face from the other end of the secret path, causing him to smile in glee. Nodding to Veran, Vatis begins his walk to the waiting Triforce.

Vatis and Veran fully enter the chamber the Triforce resides, his arms stretching out to receive the blessing of the gods. "It is here! At last, we shall have our revenge."

Veran steps in front of Vatis, throwing her arm out to stop him. "We are not alone." Vatis scans the room in the direction Veran points to, his happiness dying and morphing to shock as he catches a glance at a red-headed woman kneeling before the Triforce. She rises to let her pink dress flow over her as she stands up. Golden light surrounds the woman, pulsating powerfully in the small chamber. Veran and Vatis have to step back as the woman turns to them.

"As expected, you have arrived."

"Zelda," Vatis slyly says as he blocks his eyes from the light. "I see you have indeed mastered the Light Force. But even then, I can sense you're not as strong as you should be. Why is that, Your Majesty?"

Zelda frowns but stands in place. "You are right, I am not strong enough in my current state to fight you for long. Yet I have no plan to do so. I expected you two would arrive, so I expect the future will bear fruits as well."

"The future?"As Vatis takes another step forward, Zelda places her hand on the Triforce.

"Yes, the future. I have foreseen it. A boy and a girl from another world. A princess of the Zoras and the prince of a faraway kingdom. A girl of the desert dwellers and a girl with the power of day meeting night. I see them standing alongside three youths chosen by the gods. A king of the blood of the demon, a boy raised by a knight with the courage of heroes, and a girl whose light will one day make you cower in fear. I might not see that day, but I will be proud of her."

Vatis scoffs and raises his hand to attack Zelda from afar, but at that moment the Triforce begins to resonate. It hadn't done it until…"What have you done?"

Veran growls beside him. "She's made a wish."

Zelda nods. "I have indeed. You are too late, Vatis, to take the Triforce for yourself." Vatis watches as the Triforce vanishes in a magnificent glow, blinding everyone as it retreats to the Sacred Realm. The chamber loses most of its light aside from Zelda's waning aura and the candles along the wall.

Vatis downcasts his head, roaring in fury. Years of planning, getting Link away from the castle, setting up the attack, all for this moment, ruined by the Queen of Hyrule who got here first. In anger, he summons the hand blade again and with incredible speed, impales Zelda in her abdomen. Zelda gasps as the blade cut through her, losing her light as an effect. It doesn't just disappear but begins to wrap around Vatis, encircling him as he siphons the Light Force from Zelda. "You bitch. Do you think this is over? Hyrule is mine now! I have your power. Your Link is dead or will be very soon. Your Impaz just met her demise. Everyone you ever cared for will die. Then, if this future you see does come, I will end it. Those nine youths, I will kill every single one of them...and I think you shall live until that very moment." Vatis removes his hand, letting Zelda collapse to the ground. Blood doesn't spill from her wound; instead, stone petrifies the skin around the wound and slowly makes its way around Zelda's body. The queen doesn't cry out as Vatis wishes she would. Instead, she stares at Vatis venomously.

"Just know, you will never get your wish. They will win...or he will return."

Vatis chuckles. "Then if that's the case, they will all fall at my hands. And Hyrule will bow at my feet. And they shall know my name...Vaati."


"Fool, indeed." Vaati sits on his throne, gazing to the setting sun through the large windows. He doesn't know why he sits alone in the chair. Is it the twilight hour, when the merger of the worlds of light and dark allows one time to reflect? Is it the ticking clock that keeps him in waiting? Is it...because he's afraid?

No, he is Vaati, Wind Mage of the Minish Tribe, King of Hyrule, Leader of the Imperials. Killer of Link of Calatia, Impa, and Impaz of the Sheikah. He faced the chosen three and beat them. He took on five of the seven sages and conquered them. He faced Princess Zelda at her best and outwitted her. He fears no ones.

"You feared Malladus, so you sent Zant in your place."

Vaati turns to the statue on his left side. Queen Zelda, petrified to the bone in stone, had spoken to him. He never figured out just how it is possible she retains thought, yet it proves to be...ironically, quite the relief to be able to speak to a longtime enemy. Centuries ago, when her ancestor was captured in the same situation, she never spoke back to him, but once again, she was younger and untrained in her abilities. Zelda VII, compared to her ancestors, was the strongest until her daughter unleashed her abilities.

Her Gerudo counterpart was just the same, but no, Vaati did not fear Malladus. Zant desired to lead the Imperials to Nabooru Town and confront the Gerudo King, so Vaati allowed it. Same with the executions of the previous sages. Same with Lorule. Same with South Hyrule. Why dirty his hands when there are others to take care of the problem? "What would you know about doing things yourself?"

"Do I need to remind you?"

"No." Vaati stands up, stepping forward to make the queen "face" his back. He does not need to be reminded of the last 18 years in detail. Not even the 12 years prior to his ascension. Why is he letting the former queen bother him? He looks to his right hand, the Triforce marking the back of it. It barely glows, even when he calls upon it. The power of the gods is still regenerating its power now that it exists out of the Sacred Realm and will continue to do so for the next five days.

To put the time in perspective, it has been nearly forty-eight hours since he was betrayed.


Two nights ago, Darunia

Vaati turns away from Zelda, facing the Triforce but not stepping towards it. "Simple. You guys have been fun, and to truly end our story, to make it quite the legend, I will not wish you nine away. Zant has business with Midna. Ghirahim with you, Link, and Ganondorf. Twinrova with Ganondorf and Riju. Veran with Ralph. I will give them their chance to satisfy themselves as I am now...but we shall meet again, Princess Zelda. Just know this...as great as this fight was, it didn't push me far enough. The next time we face, bring Ganondorf. Push me Zelda, and experience my true form. Then I'll kill you and end this legend of Zelda."

Vaati quickly turns and reaches for the Triforce. Yet as he stretches his hand, he finds one already there making contact with the golden power. A purple arm coming from underneath a red robe, and those robes cover the form that is the Dark Wizard himself. "Agahnim."

"Your Majesty."

Vaati takes a step forward, calling upon his power to surround his reaching hand. "Don't you dare make a wish."

"Hehehe. It is already done." The Triforce slowly rises in the air, resonating with the will of Agahnim. "Your wish is granted. The souls of the Resistance, save for the nine you spared, will become a meal of power for the evil greater than you. My master shall rise again to take Hyrule for himself." Now at its peak, the Triforce showers the sky with golden light. It extends out the Triforce to cover the city of Darunia, then out towards all of Hyrule, and eventually the world.

When the light vanishes, Vaati stands alone. Agahnim, the Triforce, his aspirations, his kingdom, all gone in a flash of light. To think he knew Agahnim would blindside him, but never had he considered this action. To see it happen before him… Over 20 years of planning for this moment to finally make Hyrule his permanently is squashed by a bug he should have eradicated before. He tightens his fists and his eyelids to prevent the wrath and tears from escaping him. The queen was right. His wish to rule Hyrule is never to be granted...and the one he tried to keep at bay is going to return.

"Vaati."

A voice in his ears, unrecognizable yet comforting. Powerful, yet not threatening. Besides the princess behind him, he senses no one else around him. Whoever is speaking to him is using telepathy. It enrages him. "Show yourself."

"Look no further than your right hand."

Vaati does so, gasping as the mark of the power of the gods dully shine on the back of his hand. He raises it up to get a better look at it. It...is impossible. Agahnim made the wish, the Triforce should have returned to the Sacred Realm. Yet it chooses him as its possessor. A divine prank or demonic luck? "How?"

"It is as I choose. You assembled me, therefore I am yours until another takes me away."

"But Agahnim-"

"Made a wish, but he is not my chosen. Unworthy of Courage, Wisdom, and Power. But yes, his wish is granted. My power was spent to satisfy it. It will take a week for my power to return, and once it does, you may try again."

"A week…" Vaati bows his head, his anger rising. He slowly turns around to face the risen princess. He feels his power flare up as he draws the Four Sword again. "And is it true, did Agahnim wish for Ganon's return?"

"In exchange for the sacrificed souls of the Resistance, yes."

The clones are summoned, he hears the Master Sword being drawn, and the Wind Mage watches as his three copies fight against Princess Zelda. He becomes airborne as the clones overwhelm Zelda and throw a massive orb upon her. A blue crystal forms around her, a flash of lightning strikes the ground near Zelda, then a flash of light. When the orb is extinguished, Vaati returns to the ground and calls off his clones. In front of him stands Zelda, weakened in her power but still a menace nonetheless as long as the blood of Hylia is warm. In front of him stands Ganondorf with his own power, dark as Ganon's but wielded for the light. In front of him stands Link, the boy's clothes and body wrecked from his battles, but his spirit remains firm. Two demigods and a boy. He could end them now.

"For now. I'll give you a glimpse of Link's future. But in order for me to do so, you must let them live." Vaati mentally consents, to which the Triforce fulfills its promise. He sees Ganondorf as he is now, with a new trident in his hand. Zelda continues to possess the Master Sword. Link, however, has gone through a transformation, one that interests Vaati as much as it scares him. Then, as a final surprise, there's Midna, her head covered by a mask yet the power that radiates from her (even in this vision) is outstanding. The power of both sides of the coin is within her.

These four youths… If one week is needed, he shall give it to them. But not without a warning.

Ganondorf grabs him, raising him off his feet. "What did you do?"

"...He's coming."


He wonders what eight of the nine brats are doing at the moment. He believes, or wishes to believe, Zant still has Midna under tight control, but if his vision is to come to fruition, she will join Spirit, Blood, and Hatred. He could watch them all if he so chooses, yet...not knowing is for the best. He gave them their timetable, he cordially invited them to the castle, and he knows they will come.

"What really scares you is Ganon. He doesn't care about a timetable."

"It has been two days, and I haven't heard anything from the beast. I know his power is complete, but now with a body to house it, I am unsure what keeps him."

"Opportunity, Vatis. He waits for the most opportune moment to strike."

Vaati turns around and walks to Zelda, kneeling in front of the stoned queen. It tears him up on the inside to ask her this, but she is the only one alive now who knows Ganon personally. "Tell me how to beat him."

He hears her laugh at his expense. "You want me to help you?"

"Only if you want Hyrule to be rid of Ganon. Your daughter and Malladus' son are the only one to match him for the light, while my people can fight him here. But that's just from what I can sense now. Ganon can become stronger and if he must break his chains, he will."

Zelda is quiet for a moment. As each second passes, Vaati's hope that the queen will assist on the terms Ganon will be rid of drops. That's until he hears her sigh. "Fine. There are two options this war ends. The first...one final fight, between shadow, dark and light, and whoever shall win and make a wish upon the Triforce will end Hyrule's blight. Either Ganon wins, you win, or my daughter wins. The second case, you will not like one bit."

Vaati narrows his eyes. His resolve to not let Ganon take over the world overshadows any other plans for the moment. If it is a plan that the former bearer of Wisdom believes will work, he will trust it completely. "Try me."