Ganondorf

The trees of the Eastern Woods is somehow calming to the former Prince of Thieves. Living on the southern side of the mountain for the past three years (not counting the time he was comatose) makes him feel more at home than being in the sandy lands of Nabooru and Mido. The tall trees, the chirping birds, the cry of distant critters, this lowers the stress of the Gerudo that he woke up having.

Midna's words telepathically rang in his earlier in the morning, and to this moment hours later, they continue to play in his head. Originally, he was ready to head to the Twilight Realm under the pretense that there's the possibility she is alright, but while his mind dares him to go now, his body retaliates with fear. Her voice wasn't the only thing he (Link and Zelda as well) felt. Whatever power she was being swarmed with came over to them, which is how they woke up in the first place. In scale, the user is just as strong as Vaati, Zelda, and himself, but something about it said that there was more to it. Midna's attacker could possibly even as strong as Ganon's ghost or even the devil himself, and that scares Ganondorf more than anything. Another Vaati, another Ganon, another spell of blood to be paid, sacrifices to be made… He cannot do this again.

Leather footsteps bring the male in green to his side by the pond, the shorter Hylian taking a deep sigh as he gazes at the spring with a blank face. "Whether or not Sheik awakens by tonight or not, we're sending him to Ralph. Afterward, we'll head to the mirror."

"Tonight?"

"Tonight."

Somehow that relieves Ganondorf, to know they're not going to wait. However, as for what they'll do once they're there (if they can even get there), it will depend on their immediate reception. That was Ganondorf's plan, at least. "What does Zelda plan on doing?"

Link snorts. "Believe it or not, but it is a plan we would put together, not here. Depending on if we have time to plan or not, either we be tactful and find a way to Midna or fight our way to here. She is very pro-fight."

"We wouldn't have to do much, then. From what I remember of Midna telling me about Zant years ago, he was very sensitive to light for a long while. So was Midna's mother. I don't know why Midna isn't though, she's Twili, but in either case, Zelda's power should be enough to conquer most of the realm. Only Zant and the more powerful being stand in our way."

Link nods. "Good to know." He turns his head up to, in immediate sight, the trees, but his eyes were looking more distantly to the bordering mountain range. "Do you know if we can beat him?"

"No. He was weaker when I faced him compared to the phantom, but still a fight one wouldn't win alone. We barely beat him together. Without the Triforce, we're outmatched."

"Then I might have to use the mask. Zelda doesn't want me to until we understand more about it."

"We might not have time to study it, but I believe that you must use it against Ganon, no matter what. Any power we have against him should be used...including a damned alliance with the Imperials."


Ralph

The return to Darunia was just as somber as the departure. The only difference was the activity of the civilians, the only Hylian survivors of the city's previous battle not in the rebellion. The past three days, the rebels minimized contact with the Darunians, but as soon as the five Sages reenter the city, they were greeted like celebrities.

If celebrities were greeted with a massive cheer and the raising of swords, spears, and the mighty fists of the Gorons. At first, they thought they were being kicked out of the town until Daruk gripped the five of them in a bear-like hug.

"Listen here, brothers, we need to talk about something called fighting back!"

That leads them to the present moment, back inside Daruk's home. Ralph, Oren, Hilda, Ravio, and Riju sitting in a round-table discussion with Daruk. He hasn't said a word yet about this "fighting back" nor as to the reason there are four empty chairs on his side of the table. When Hilda tries to speak up on Daruk's hesitation, Daruk simply tells her to wait a while longer.

That was ten minutes ago, and for the King of Labrynna, that made him uneasy. "Daruk, you might have the patience of a...rock, so to speak, but we're on a schedule as is. Whatever you need to talk about, can't you do so now?"

"You have a few days until you confront Vaati again, right? I think you have plenty of time to wait. Oh, nevermind, here are our guests." Daruk stands up as the doors to the large room open and his son Darbus ushers in three men. None Ralph recognizes at first until he gets a good look at the youngest of the three humans, a purple-haired man with a purple, brown, and white shirt and purple pants walk in front of them with a smile.

"Kafei?" Ravio confusingly exclaims. "What are you doing here...alive?"

Kafei chuckles as he takes his seat. "Should I not be alive? I haven't been with the Resistance in a month so I must've have been dead!"

"You don't understand," Ralph says. "Vaati wished upon the Triforce that all members of the Resistance, except for us six Sages, the princess, Link, and Ganondorf to die. We thought we were all that's left."

"Well, as all magic goes, there is always a loophole." That comes from the eldest newcomer in the room, a Sheikah by appearance. Many of my own survived the decimation. Even then, my people never swore allegiance to the Resistance, only to the princess. But if what you say about your friend is true, it seems Vaati made an error in his wish. The Triforce is tricky business, for it has an essence of its own. Seems he wasn't specific enough to say to eliminate the Resistance from the world, but in Darunia only."

"It wasn't Vaati's error," Hilda says. "From the horse's mouth himself and confirmed by Ganondorf, Link, and Zelda, it was a subordinate of Ganon who stole the wish."

The Sheikah sneers at Hilda. "Hm. Anything else you'll like to share, Sage of Shadow?"

Hilda disregards the Sheikah's biting tone in favor of civility. "No, I do not. But it seems you know who I am, yet I don't recall your name."

"Maz Koshia, an elder of the Sheikah Clan. Once a fierce advocate for my people to stay neutral in the conflict, but with the rise of Ganon and Vaati wielding the Triforce, I say Sheik is right. Our neutrality indeed is costing Hyrule. It claimed the queen's life, it will not claim the princess'."

The last man, slightly older than Kafei by appearance and who wears a brown and green tunic similar to Link's, clears his throat to speak. "To finish introductions, I am Maka, leader of Saria. It was Daruk who sought us out after the battle a few days back. We know Ganon is back, we've observed some activity reminiscence of 30 years ago. It is most likely his campaign will begin in my town, so with that knowledge and council from the civilians, we have decided enough is enough. The Resistance, without the other kingdoms, was nothing but a ragtag group of guerilla fighters, yet it did the impossible back on Death Mountain two months ago. It rallied to world to its aid, but the people of Hyrule...we did nothing. We let the world fight for our country, and now with the world gone, we're all that's left. Saria suffered Vaati's wrath with the death of our Sage, but she would not want us to linger in fear. Same with Bagu. It is time we stood up and fought ourselves. Daruk agrees with me."

"Yes, brother. We're not military, nor do we have the training the Resistance got in the years since their formation. We're just people, but the wars of Hyrule against darkness were never won by the military's best. A boy from a small village, a Kokiri from the forest, a Goron from the mountains, a Sheikah and maiden from the capital, a witch minding her business in her hut, a Zora princess from her aqueous kingdom, whenever Hyrule needed salvation, people from across the land joined together. If we are to lose to either force, Vaati's or Ganon's, I rather lose on my two feet than sitting on my butt."

"And in the name of the Queen, for Impa, and for the Princess, we owe Hyrule our aid."

"Well," Ralph begins, processing all this information. "I would be foolish to say no. Not like I can sway your choice anyway. But there's a fourth chair, yet only three entered.

Where's the last one?"

"I'm...here." All faces turn to the door, where a Zora female, red in color, steps inside. Those eyes shifted to the standing, surprised, and quite possibly disbelieving Sage of Water. The newcomer turns to other Zora in the room with a woeful smile. "Oren, my dear sister."

"Mipha?" Oren closes the distance between her and her older sister, tearfully hugging her.

Ralph turns to the mayor of Saria. "How? We thought she was dead."

"The Zora are a far more resilient race than we always think. Turns out Mipha and a multitude of Zoras survived the attack on the Domain, but the path to Lake Hylia was destroyed. Instead, they sought shelter elsewhere for all those years, but kept in close contact with Daruk and me"

"It was I," Daruk continues, "who figured out that the Zora with your guys is the Sage of Water, the survivor of Lake Hylia, confirmed by the battle here. So, without confronting you about it, I sent a message to Mipha, deciding it was time to reunite the family."

Ravio folds his arms. "The Hylians, the Zoras, the Gorons, the Sheikah...this is no longer a fight for the world, but of Hyrule. For the first time since the Era of Time, the races join together against the darkness."

Riju nods. "The Gerudo are not one hundred percent out of this either. Ganondorf and I still stand...and I do believe we have a sleeping force ourselves. I will need to go to Nabooru to gather it, though."

"Then we just have a final issue." Ralph looks to Daruk, biting his bottom lip. "Per Zelda's call, we have an alliance with the Imperials against Ganon. But what Vaati doesn't know is this. Gather your people, all of you. We'll let the forces of Vaati and Ganon fight each other, then when the time is nigh, the people of Hyrule will finish them off! But this fight isn't just for us, no. Princess Hilda did forget one piece of information… Queen Zelda lives."


Link

Link taps the sheathed Master Sword that he holds in front of him as he hears the first signs of life from Sheik comes in the form of a shocked gasp. Being that he is alone with Sheik (Ganondorf and Zelda went off to hunt for tonight's dinner while there's still light), it takes a moment for the Sheikah to notice him, but when he does, Link simply waves. "Hey."

"Link? What in the Goddess's name are you doing here?"

"Saving you for once. Much has changed the last four days."

The older blonde frowns. "So...I can assume we lost?"

Link nods. "For the most part, yes. The Resistance is down to nine members, Vaati has the Four Sword and the Triforce, but the king got his wish stolen by Agahnim. Guess who's back for real this time."

"Nayru be damned."

"Yeah. But Zelda did win against him. Granted, it took all of us...including Impa and Spryte. They...both fell at Vaati's hands. It is my fault, really. I gotta be the most incompetent Hero of Hyrule there has ever been."

Sheik chuckles as he scoots over to Link. "Link used to say that too. It isn't easy being you or Zelda, I guess. You both have the soul of the originals, but you aren't the same person. I can't imagine having such a huge pressure on myself, and my job is to protect the Royal Family. But you're far from incompetent. Whatever happens, it is supposed to happen. We're all puppets on the strings of fate; once our string is cute, our part is over. Those you believe you failed did their part. Rusl raised you to be an excellent swordsman, did he not? He was one of the best in his time, he passed all his knowledge to you. Link did all he could for you, too. So did Impa. They got you and Zelda this far, to this very moment. Many people died 30 years ago, many people died in the legends before then. It all had to happen to get the Heroes and Princesses to their final destiny. It is a horrible cycle...but it is the will of fate."

"Fate, huh."

"Yeah. But...we have the ability to change our fates. I like to believe in a fate where the Hero of Time lived and defeated Ganon along with the Princess of Destiny. What happened to Hyrule in that reality? Or maybe they stopped Ganon's reign from ever happening, what happened because of it? If we could change fate now… I would change everything that happened that day. If Link was at the castle, he and the Queen would have stopped Vaati and Veran's coup, or I'll like to believe. If Vaati's butler never told Link about…" Sheik suddenly pauses, cupping his chin in a sudden epiphanic moment. It unsettles Link to the point it becomes uncomfortable.

"Um, Sheik?"

The Sheikah stands up, folding his arms as he stares at the spring. "Vaat's defeat...it lies at North Castle. That old coot, he is the key."

"What are you talking about?"

"Vaati had a butler by the name of Ezlo back in the day. He told Link about the "happenings" at Death Mountain which kept him away from the castle. He is also the reason Impa and I escaped with the infant princess. I thought him to be dead by now, but if he is alive..." He turns to Link with a determined look in his eyes. "We must head for the castle, Link. The only man who can tell us how to beat Vaati once and for all is there."

"So is Zelda's mother and Lady Nayru. But for now, we cannot-"

"Woah woah woah- The queen is alive?"

"Yes. Vaati and Shade passed that on to me."

"Then storming the castle is even more important."

"But not yet." Link stands up, hooking the Master Sword's sheath to his back. "The reason we're down here is to save MIdna. Whatever you plan on doing, it must wait until we are ready to take the fight to Vaati and Ganon."

Sheik lowers his head. "Very well… I'll return to my people, see what I can do. Until then...give Zelda my thanks."


North Castle

Within the darkness that forms the dungeons of North Castle, in a single cell sits a white haired, bearded man in a large green cloak. He sits quietly, for he has no reason to open his mouth. His only company, the Darknuts that guard his cell, do not speak. His masters, they only speak to him to belittle him. For the last eighteen years, he let it happen to atone for his sins. A sin that he wishes to suffer alone, but she won't let him bear it.

Vaati has been and always will be his great sin. How long has it been since the Hero of the Minish originally put his wayward disciple away? Then in a prank only the divine could put together, Vaati is reborn as a nobleman, eventually remembers his true past, and finds an ally in Veran. To make the joke a nightmare, Vaati resurrects his old master to make him experience their new world...and his new plan.

Ezlo, the great Minish wizard, creator of the Minish Cap, aid to the Hero of the Minish, couldn't even warn the Hero of Hyrule of the danger of Vaati because not even Ezlo himself knew about it. He knew of the bid for king, but that was it. He never knew Vaati desired to fully usurp (if that term can be applied to Vaati. No matter how the story will go, he was unofficially 'King of Hyrule" at the time) and kill Zelda, a goal that goes against his modus operandi of trying to wed her. The Light Force, the inner power of the royal maiden that Vaati desired that time long ago, he did manage to steal from the Queen.

It was Veran who told Ezlo to tell Vaati, or rather Vatis, about the attack on Death Mountain, and believing it, he told Vatis and Link, the latter going ahead to be the hero he is. However, while too late to stop the Hero, Ezlo managed to tell the laboring Queen of her king's betrayal once he realized that Ganon isn't free from his seal. He learned that the Queen had been suffering premonitions again, but none of them made sense as it seemed to be of the distant future. So she told no one, not even Impa or Link, but she told Ezlo. One single description fortified his decision to ally with Queen Zelda, that of a single red eye within a dark mass.

After trading their secrets, Zelda realized that it was too late to stop Vaati in the present, but the future, as her premonition ordained, is the right time. She gave Ezlo one final task; no matter what, her heir must go into hiding.

He led Sheik and Impa out the castle with the newborn Princess Zelda, then stayed by Vaati's side for nearly two decades as a prisoner. However, it was he who managed to convince the king to let Zelda live, who kept Hyrule's government intact for ten years until the events of Rauru. That was an unfortunate moment for the Seven Sages, but Ezlo knew their bid was too early.

Death Mountain, too early. Rauru again, slightly early but close enough. Darunia, as much as he hates to admit it, still early. However, in a few days time, the fight Queen Zelda envisioned will come to pass.

"Your Highness...the time approaches."

"Have you made your preparations, Ezlo?"

"Yes. Once and for all, Vaati must be put down."

"The final battle...it decides Hyrule's fate. I pray to those above that they are with us."