Translator
Hyrule Castle is falling to the army of Ganon. With the odds having never been this desperate, Princess Zelda must call forth the powerful wind demon from his imprisonment with Linkle's compass as it's new seal. Will Vaati save the kingdom? Or bring ruin?
Additional info: This is a spiritual sequel of the Four Swords continuity, thus the Tri-force and Master Sword aren't a thing. Instead the holy features are Lifeforce in all things (which the royal family tends to have the most), an excess in which results in Force Gems alongside the Four Swords, the existence of the Minish, The Sacred Elements, the Wind Tribe alongside the Gerudo and the fact that Ganondorf became Ganon thanks to the Demon Spear he wields. Oh, and a Dark World exists too. The only newcomers are the Sheikah I believe, which have been installed by the latest ruler as of this timeline as the uh, "Affinity" for princesses to end up kidnapped by villains was a pattern they'd got tired off.
Several pairs of frantic footsteps, one of them a blond-haired girl of just fifteen and her older grand-mother of eighty years old, echoed through the stone hallway. It wasn't the only noise present – screams of terror and shouts from the army behind them rang in her ears as she fled. There was a slaughter behind them. Monsters, demons, mythical creatures of darkness are attacking Castletown from every side, moblins impaled and slashed civilians with weapons and armor too advanced for them to make on their own. Wizzrobes set aflame houses and froze and shocked soldiers aplenty.
Even a dragon with golden scales was sighted making it's way straight towards the Castle itself.
This was the first time that Linkle has experienced the actual effects of war. Ever since she was seven she remembered the hearsay about conflict that was happening on the borders of Hyrule. It was spoken off in whispers by the adults and the other kids would relay their worries as more and more of their older siblings were drafted to this unseen fight. Being the daughter of simple farmers, she wasn't one that had to defend the newly crowned queen and the kingdom, not that she didn't want to. Though she was an average girl in everything but her aim bow-wise, she always wondered what it would be like to go on an adventure like the heroes of old and bring peace to all as a hero.
That wistful thinking changed the day the kingdom begun to lose.
"Granny...What's happening?" she couldn't help but ask as she held her grandmother's hand, a woman who was usually so gentle and kind but now looked more fierce and resolved than Linkle had ever seen in her life as the two of them ran amidst a group of knights escorting them.
"Be brave, Linkle. We'll be fine." her grandmother said, with no emotion on her face so for once Linkle couldn't tell what she was thinking. Or why they of all people were being escorted by knights inside some underground tunnel that's leading them to well, she doesn't know where.
She could only nod in response, both curious and terrified as to where they are going. She never knew Castle Town had these hidden tunnels, but they must be heading somewhere important if the highest knights in the kingdom, those gigantic men wearing onyx armor alongside swords and shields too large for any other to wield. It really had to be, because why else would they be here instead of standing beside the prin-the queen to protect her against whoever leads this army.
She let out a small prayer to the three goddesses, that whatever the kingdom expected of her she would be able to pull through. Maybe the heroic potential her grand-mother kept talking about was something that wasn't just meant as a compliment or encouragement to follow her dreams. She fiddled with the golden compass resting down the top of her chest. Remembering when it was entrusted to her many years ago.
"Linkle, I am going to tell you something of great importance," her granny spoke on a stormy day, her skin was cold and clammy and Linkle couldn't push away the fear she felt that this might be her granny's last day on earth whenever she looked this ill, even more when she wanted to have 'a talk'.
Linkle walked to her bed-bound mother figure and sat beside her, the latter took out a small treasure chest with a gold lock at the front. With shaky hands she unlatched and opened it. Taking out a beautiful golden compass with a blue and red needle that peculiarly weren't pointing north or south, but instead at some strange rune-like letters of an unknown language. Even odder was the center of the compass, for it looked like a golden eye was staring right back at her, if not throughout her.
"This is an important item. It's the key...well, the backup key to releasing something very dangerous: within this compass lies the key to release and bind….a very powerful being."
Linkle looked puzzled. "You mean, it could release a demon or a monster?"
"Yes, ages ago, in a time where the great fairies still served the royal family, the princess and the hero of that age sealed a dangerous demon inside a holy blade. His name is Vaati."
Linkle listened with attention. That Hyrule was blessed with tales of heroes and villains was common knowledge, but it wasn't until her Granny insisted she'd be taught three days a week at Castle Town's school that she realized the princess and hero were destined to reincarnate over and over, committing miraculous feats into every life. Sealing a demon or two clearly was no exception.
Her grand-mother continued to speak.
"Know that only someone pure of heart and body can use this compass. And that the royal family had entrusted the father of your father's father with this compass once the seal broke a third time, for that ancestor of ours was the hero of the Four Sword, and thus you are part of his bloodline."
Wait! Does that mean I-"
"No, it doesn't. The hero though always an Hylian could be reborn as the son or daughter of anyone. Still, our ancestor left behind a lineage of brave knights that has protected the kingdom for generations. It is no boast to say that out of any family, ours has died the most for the kingdom."
"But my mom and dad were farmers…"
"They became farmers when they had you, no, they only became farmers after realizing during a mission that badly wounded them that if they kept this up, their daughter would never know their love. I have never been more grateful for that decision, though their deaths will always be tragic."
"But what about the demon? Why would I want to set him free?" Linkle changed the subject, not wanting to remember the terrible plaque that took their lives. Talking about some demon was strangely far less intimidating in comparison. "Wouldn't he go on a rampage or something?"
"Yes, Linkle, but in a time where all hope is lost and our kingdom is bound to fall he may be able to defeat the enemy and save Hyrule with his immense power."
It was a lot to process, and Linkle was glad her granny decided to pause at that moment because she needed to collect her thoughts. She never considered there would come a time the kingdom would fall – to her young mind, it seemed impossible. The castle was huge and their knights always looked so strong and dependable, so how could it fall? There was the war, but she doubted they would lose.
Despite her disbelief, she listened to her granny anyway. "What do I have to do?"
Her grandmother smiled. She knew that her granddaughter would make a fine hero one day.
"Listen carefully, Linkle, this lesson may save all our lives someday. The key to transferring the seal to the golden compass is to touch the Four Swords with one hand while holding the compass in the other. Likewise the way to seal him once more is the kiss of a virgin."
Linkle slowly blinked, feeling like she missed some details. "Umm, what? A kiss? From a virgin?"
If that was a joke, it wasn't that clever.
"I'm not joking." Her granny said deathly serious. "Vaati was known for his habit to kidnap beautiful maidens and make them his bride. In the event he turns his sight against the kingdom you'll have to fool him into kissing you. That shouldn't be hard, as you're quite the woman."
Linkle blushed red. Her granny mentioned such an outrageous thing like it was no big deal!
"Gran!" she said, embarrassed. "You can't expect me to seduce some evil monster!"
"Well, he won't be looking my way as I'm but an old woman. And the princess is a no-go either lest he might covet her holy powers again. You're the only one I can entrust this to. Please guard it with your life, and if the time comes to use the spell…" she sighed, "Well, let's hope it never comes…"
Everything was black. At first there were mere pinpricks of light, like yellow stars. Then she noticed that they were fluttering downward and coated the entire landscape. No, she realized. Sand. It was sand, falling to...well, she wasn't sure where, in a desert where a pyramid lies hidden.
She drifted inwards the temple, seeing a poorly lit room and but in its center lies the reason for her vision.
Resting on top of an altar of black marble is a trident the size of a man, crafted with careful care using a dark metal. Except for the red gem in the middle of it, its design is deceptively simple yet beautiful in its ominousness. Its very presence oozes an oppressing magic that makes the air heavy and make hair stand. It's like having electricity running on one's skin. All that lay eye upon it can feel a part of themselves firing up in excitement and awe, seduced by its power. Yet another part screams at her to flee, to stay as far away as possible like a scared animal for it is not meant for the good.
Right behind it stands a stone tablet with some ancient text. But even so, she can tell what it says.
Seek you the world?
Seek you power?
Does your soul despise peace and thirst for more?
Does your soul cry for destruction and conquest?
We grant you the power to ruin the world. The power of true darkness.
We crown you the new Black King, sitting on a throne of corpses and ash.
The moment she was done reading, she was startled by a new presence.A figure was there, looking back the way he had come as the only entrance shuts down behind him with steel bars….he! His crimson hair was the same color as the mad flames that kept the chamber lit, as he turned his brown face to look at the spear. Recognition dawned on strange, golden eyes. The male gerudo seemed to glide over the spear, touching it experimentally. It was as if he was unsure how to greet an old friend whom he hadn't seen in years, if not a past life. Yet the hesitance faded, and he grasped it firmly. The muscles in his arm flexed slightly as he pulled it from the ground and all turned dark.
The last thing she saw was the man's shadow, twisting from the size of a tall man into something wrong, something monstrous, the cry of a mad boar announced the birth of a new king of dark.
And then it became aware of her presence.
"Princess Zelda, it seems the enemy is steadily advancing towards the castle," an old member of the royal court said, "We don't have much time until the queen's army retreats and they break through our defenses."
The young princess's eyes fluttered before knitting her brows into a frown. She was now in power while her mother was fighting on the front lines but she was far too young and inexperienced. Even now she couldn't control much of her inherited powers, like the vision that just came to her.
At this time, the young princess was speaking with the royal family's courtiers in the war room of the castle (Before it's inevitably attacked). While her mother, the queen was steadfastly leading the defense of the kingdom, yet despite her bravery and uncommon gift in the arts of war...her army had been pushed back so far as to nearly reach the outer walls. Not due to incompetence but because the kingdom's forces were dwindling, on the edge of collapse. For every ten monsters that are slain, twenty more rise up, and a constant conflict with an enemy that does not fear death nor needs no rest is something that even the hardiest of warriors can't hold back forever. Just or not.
"If I know the queen, she won't retreat." A white haired female sheikah in her early thirties says next to the princess, Impa, one of the most skilled sheikah left was here on orders of the queen to protect her daughter, to ensure her survival at all costs, though that last part wasn't said out loud.
"What good would that do? She'd just die needlessly!" another courtier shouted.
A murmur of voices filled the room. It was tense since the queen left her throne to the front lines and the king was assassinated by a group of sheikah's turned traitor. None of the old advisors at the round table felt at ease with a member of the shadow clan amongst them and they believed even less that a fifteen year old girl that was spoiled by her parents would be fit as a leader. They usually acted like they had confidence in her leadership as the princess is a symbol of divinity and the good of all in the kingdom. But ever since said kingdom seemed doomed to lose the war they were bolder in sharing their beliefs and frustrations.
Impa put her hand on Zelda's shoulder.
"We need to listen to Zelda's advice. She's the acting queen at the moment. And if we know the queen isn't to retreat, then we need to form a party to escort the commoners, lords, and ladies from the castle and the town safely out of here and evacuate them to the remaining towns we have left."
Just then someone burst through the door of the war room and panted, catching his breath. A member of the sheikah faced the court with a grim expression on his face. His body is covered in arrows and burns and though he's actively bleeding on the floor. He looks absolutely heartbroken.
"The queen ordered me here. Everyone is to evacuate from the town and the castle."
Zelda's eyes widened. It couldn't be.
"Is she…?" She asked, the question so dreadful she finally spoke up.
He closed his eyes, "She's...she saved so many of us…" he stops whatever tale he was about to tell, the story of her sacrifice clearly too painful for even someone trained to deaden their emotions.
"She's gone from this world." He confirms.
Everything stopped for her. Her mother was dead. Her mother, the queen, the most powerful and influential force in Hyrule was gone. The woman who raised her… Tears sprang to her eyes, but she couldn't afford to grieve, now was not the time.
Beside her the courtiers were losing their minds, rushing to leave or raising their voices to each others like chickens with their heads cut off.
Zelda was lost. She had no idea what to do now that her mother was gone. She didn't have the know-how to run a kingdom that's about to collapse. She was panicking internally when Impa put her hands on her shoulder and forced Zelda to face her.
"Queen Zelda, your mother has given us one last way to win this war."
Back in the hall, the tension was beginning to eat away at Linkle. She was running as fast as she could, however, her granny, with her shorter legs and none of her youthful stamina was lagging behind, and there was no way she would ditch her granny! Still a knight scowled at the two.
"Oh man up, ladies. Don't act like you've never run in your lives."
Linkle turned her head. What is this guy's problem?!
"What is wrong with you?! What do you get off on making fun of an elder? Butt out, jerk!"
The knight looked taken aback by her outburst but simply rolled his eyes and kept running. The two girls ran as fast their feet could take them when they finally turned a corner and saw a figure waiting in the room ahead. Causing everyone to stop dead in their tracks after entering.
"Princess!" Linkle gasped in recognition.
Zelda, daughter of the Queen Zelda (All firstborn females are called Zelda in the royal family), was her only child and heir to the throne. She stood tall in a pink flown battle dress with a rapier sheathed by her side, golden gauntlets on her hands and feet, a tiara with a purple gem on top of her head and her long golden hair was pulled in a high ponytail. A pitch perfect image of her mother.
She was standing in front of a large, ancient stone mural, the engravings covered in dirt and difficult to decipher. In the center, the engravings depicted an arched door, but it had crumbled to a pile of rocks, leaving a gaping hole. It was this that the princess was looking at anxiously.
"What is this place?" Linkle murmured to her granny.
"I will let Impa explain. Besides, you should already know we are here."
Before Linkle could prod further, one of the knights approached and bowed his head. The others quickly followed suit.
"Princess, we've come to defend you and your mother. Where is she?"
"Not here. She is still on the front lines," Zelda lied. She didn't want to start even more panic.
She turned to look at Linkle, or to be more precise her compass. "I was sent here by Impa and I've been waiting here for you. I was told you were entrusted with a way to save the castle."
Linkle straightened her back and gave a silent nod. This could only mean one thing…
"So, is she the hero reincarnated or something?" one of the knights asked.
Yet another turned to her and gave her a scrutinizing look.
"Her? This kid?"
Linkle glared at them. The nerve! Luckily, the princess was there to stop her from responding.
"The sword's still here…" Zelda started, motioning with a tilt of her head to a simple stone pedestal, atop of which an ancient sword was set deep inside. Rust was creeping over its edges and grime grew both on the hilt and the pedestal. Clearly the blade was put here to be hidden and forgotten about, but even so the jewel within its hilt sparked brightly when Linkle stared at it.
"That's...the Four Sword?" Linkle breathed, feeling as though she couldn't speak. Her chest felt tight just looking at it. It was one thing to hear a story or see magic performed during a festival, but to see a legendary blade that had saved Hyrule and was wielded by one of her ancestors – no matter how eroded...it made something within her stir excitedly, almost painfully.
At Zelda's gesture to come closer to it, Linkle approached it, her steps slow and timid.
"Touch the sword with one hand and the compass with the other," a new voice said right next to her, making Linkle jump up from Impa's sudden appearance. The sheikah ignored her reaction and continued explaining. "If all goes well, the demon inside it will transfer seals and be bound to you."
"I understand that such a thing may sound dreadful." Zelda spoke before Linkle could answer, her face betraying no emotion. "But this is the last way for us to save the kingdom, please endure it."
It wasn't, but that didn't stop this from being the safest method left. If the princess were to release the demon then it'd be free to do whatever it wants. But if Linkle does it, then they have at least a metaphorical leash around it's throat. Though then Linkle would be stuck with its company.
"I'll...I'll do it." Linkle confirms when she realizes they're waiting for an answer. "This is really a lot to just ask of me, but if I'm going to be a hero. Then I may as well start by saving the castle!"
"Found the rats."
Suddenly there was a loud crash and Linkle went flying forward into the pedestal. Her breath was forced out of her as her body took impact against the hard rock and she coughed, the dust-filled air only making it harder to breathe. In front of her on the ground was debris, which she realized were chunks of the stone ceiling that came falling down. Where there used to be gray bricks there was a gaping hole leading outside. And under those bricks were several knights, crushed to bits.
Linkle looked around immediately. "Granny! Granny where are you?!"
She finally caught sight of her, lying on the floor. Blood on her forehead.
"No!"
She crawled over to her and placed her finger on her throat, feeling both breath and heartbeat relaxed her a bit. Granny was alive, just unconscious, some small rubble had hit her forehead and put a small cut there, though no vein was shredded. Linkle pulled her closer to her to keep her safe and pressed a handkerchief firmly on the wound when she heard someone step towards them.
Standing in the new opening, with light pouring down on them was a humanoid demon wearing a golden armor that made them ressemble a Knuckle armor. A piercing stare came out from the crimson eyes on it's chest plate while it's exposed human mouth held an amused sneer. "My, my, if this isn't finding two birds to kill with one stone, how lucky." The ball and chain he casually held within his arms was let go, before he starts spinning it about high in the air with no visible effort.
"Onox," Impa hissed, having released several darts at his exposed weak point, only for the demon to slightly tilt his head up to avoid the blow and then look her way with an intact grin.
"Your opponent will be me." the sheikah continued, putting on an evasive combat pose.
"Funny you say that, but I think I'd rather play another game." Onox, one of the infamous demon generals known for his cruelty and brutality on the field started swinging his weapon again, before leering at the princess who was on the floor just a few feet away from either of them. For that matter so was Linkle and her granny, his weapon was clearly capable of hitting anyone.
"I like to call this the 'can you protect everyone in the room or will some of these girls be crushed to a pulp' game. Better hurry, Sheikah!" and Impa had only a second to react before he swung at…
Linkle and her granny! While the princess might have dodged in time, Linkle couldn't move that quickly with a person in her arms. No, the only reaction she could give at that moment was to embrace her granny even tighter and hope that her own body will take the brunt for the two of them.
Smash!
Linkle heard a painful crunch, but felt no pain whatsoever. When she opened her eyes, she saw the Sheikah standing in front of the two, holding the spiked ball away with the aid of two bladed tonfas, still the sheer force behind the blow seemed to have broken the blades and some of her fingers.
"Ooh, you took my attack head-on!" Onox commented, the cruel grin becoming wider. "What a brave warrior you are, yes, maybe I should spare you and take you for myself. How about it?"
"Linkle, hurry on and remove the seal." Impa ignored the demon's offer and tilted her head slightly so her stern gaze could be seen by the green capped girl. "Hurry! I'll protect everyone, so go!"
That's right. It was now or never. Linkle held her compass firmly with her left hand and approached the pedestal as quickly as she could. Maybe it was a trick of the eye, but the closer she came, the brighter the gem in its hilt continued to sparkle. The demon attacked her again the moment it noticed and Impa redirected the attacks that came after and after and so forth. Linkle however no longer noticed that, the closer to the blade she got, the more of her attention was consumed by it, it felt like she was hearing a whisper that's urging her to take the blade. The demon troops that entered the hole as reinforcement didn't matter, the fact Onox seemed to be slowly winning didn't matter either. What did matter was the feeling her life would forever change once the blade is out.
The moment she grabbed the blade's handle, the gem sparkled so brightly it illuminated part of the room, at the same time Linkle felt a shock through her whole body, then something shattered.
The Four Sword snapped in half with a big shock-wave, causing Linkle to stumble and almost fall straight on her butt if it wasn't for Zelda's helping hand coming to her back just in time. The two of them watched in confusion as a dark cloud spewed out of the sword, slowly but surely taking the form of a monster, only for it's transformation to be interrupted when the Golden Compass shined just as bright as the sword once did, and absorb most of the darkness emanating from the creature.
Until before their eyes stands a man with his face covered by a purple hood, but his cloak, violet and clasped with a large ruby set in gold was magnificent and bellowed out at the ends as though bustled by a strange stagnant wind. His tunic was of an ancient, dashing cut, made of purple silk and slashed with a red sash all of which were embroidered with silver thread. His tailored pants were tucked into black boots lined with matching embroidery. The demon was dressed like a king.
"Finally, I am free once more," said the demon with a tenor and light voice. "Vaati is back."
With pale, slender hands, the man withdrew his dark hood showing a face that Linkle could only gasp at. The only word she could think to describe him as was gorgeous. His hair was light like lilac and with a gust of wind, streamed down his back until it curled out at the ends. Most women did not have hair so fine, or more, a face so lovely, pale, and free of wrinkles and blemishes. The only thing that told her that this being might be a man was the firmness of his chin and the depth of his voice.
Her cheeks heated when he turned his gaze her way with an unreadable expression, his only visible red eye seeming to pierce through her very being. Then when his lips formed a satisfied smile, it felt like an intense heat was going through her body. "I must thank you for freeing me, fair maiden."
"M-me?" Linkle couldn't help but ask, unused to the attention of the other gender.
"Who else but you? You pulled out the sword and thus you ended my suffering. It is only fair that I return the favor then. So what it is that you want? Grand riches, Great power...or perhaps myself?"
The seductive tone behind the last option, followed by him winking at her made her heart thump.
But now wasn't the time for that! With a shake of her head, Linkle tried to regain herself. "T-that's not what I'm here for!" she said as firmly as she could, but even then she sounded out of breath.
"Oh? Is that so? Well, that's a shame. Were you to be my bride, I'd have treated you like a queen."
Linkle sputtered again. These flirtations were too much! When she turned to Zelda for help, she saw the other woman's cheeks were also red and her eyes focused on the mage's every word. It was obvious she was just as attracted to the handsome demon and wouldn't be of any help.
"Girls, we're in the middle of something." it was in the end, Impa that had to end the moment with her stern tone and icy look. The fact she was fighting an actual demon general returned to the younger girl's minds and with that, the shame at letting themselves be distracted in the middle of it.
Onox, on the other hand, looked even more amused by what he just witnessed.
"Hya, ha ha ha! So our intelligence was right, the "fearsome" wind demon is nothing more than a lustful fool. Some last option you are all relying on…." The general's humor was so great that he stomped the ground as he laughed, the mere motion causing the room to shake, a clear sign that so far he had yet to unleash his full power and was for a matter of words, just toying with everyone.
Vaati cared for none of that, instead looking at the general with a glare.
"Hmph! You dare mock me, you pathetic ingrate? I'm Vaati, lord of the wind! And I am no fool."
Vaati continued. "Then again, I suppose insults are a way for you to cope with the revolting sight you hide behind your helmet. The kind that even your mother must mistake for a crushed toad."
Onox gritted his teeth, "I will not be mocked by an inferior, my minions, go and kill him!"
He pointed at Vaati and in the blink of an eye, hundred of monsters came rushing. Vaati just smirked.
"Not even a challenge. Wind Slash!"
He raised his hand and the scene played out in slow-motion in Linkle's mind. Some energy seemed to shift, a slight dark aura rising over his body. His deadly red eye glowed a bit brighter and the monsters were sliced apart, an invisible force sending severed limbs and heads flying. If it wasn't for the name and the waves of gust coming from the magic as the monsters disintegrated then Linkle would have never been able to understand the nature behind the attack Vaati just used.
He lowered his hand again, standing unharmed and unstained while surrounded by the bits and pieces of the monster parts the troops left behind. Linkle and Zelda were tightly holding on to Impa who carried them and Granny a safer distance away from the fight as they watched it in awe.
"Tch, the small fry can't do anything right." Onox said as he cracked his knuckles.
"Keep up that attitude, I do love it when the haughty break before me." Vaati challenged him.
"You will regret saying that." Onox replied, then his body shifted. Wings sprouted on his back and grew in size, his body swapped human skin for golden scales and his eyes became blood red. He grew a foot, two feet, three, getting bigger by the second. Two horns and a gem sprouted on his head, shifting him completely into a huge, grotesque dark dragon. Linkle shuddered at the sight.
"You face Onox, general of darkness, prepare to die, pitiful man slave!"
Linkle's hands instinctively went to her crossbows as she stared up at the dragon, but her hands were also shaking. How could anyone defeat something like that? None of her arrows would pierce that kind of scales and she doubts even Impa has the strength to shatter the gem on it's forehead.
She turned and saw that Vaati appeared unimpressed, his hands resting at his hip.
"A giant lizard? How dull, I think I'll rip off your scales one by one."
Immediately after saying that, the mage launched upwards. Linkle barely had time to blink before the room increased in heat and filled with blinding light as blue fire rained all over the ancient shrine. Impa quickly did some hand signs and in no time, a barrier appeared over the bystanders.
Before she could even think about the possibility, Vaati showed himself to be unharmed. Using his much, much smaller size to evade the dragon's attack and move through the air like a leaf carried by the wind. Returning a few wind blasts here and there as if he were warming up before both demons intensified their attacks. What followed could be called a spectacle for the ages or like a nightmare.
Flashes of fire were met with angry gusts of winds, huge claws hit nothing but air, magic she couldn't identify flied all over the air. Finally looking like he's fed up, Vaati summoned a bat-like creature with only one eye, then has the sentry morph itself into the shape of a blade, one with black outlines and a red eye at the guard. Vaati swung the sword experimentally before smiling again.
Just as Onox was to raise himself into the air and rain dragon fire for the third time, Vaati took his chances and momentarily removed the wind from beneath the beast's great wings, causing gravity to do it's job for just a moment, which is all the time he needs to pierce his blade into the gem on Onox's head, causing a crack within it and a roar of pain from the massive beast in response.
But this only enraged the dragon, the blow against the gem was also a blow to his pride! One he would not stand for. The dragon's eyes caught greater sight of the mage's movements, observing, analyzing them like the great warrior he is, before he finally noticed a kink in his evasive style.
Could the wind mage dodge both his attacks and protect the bystanders? Logic tells Onox his fellow demon wouldn't care for anyone but themselves but it wasn't everyday that the people below them had the princess of Hyrule in them. He had no doubts the wind mage would want her as a bride, puffing up his chest in pride at a new idea. Onox let out a belch of flames at the bystanders!
As expected, this forced the mage to move and lay still as he protected them with gales of winds, but more importantly, it distracted the purple demon. And during that time, Onox swooped down towards him, then did a full turn mid-dive to lash his tail out at the mage like a massive whip!
Unable to see the attack in time, the dragon's tail smashed right into the mage, throwing him against the other side of the field, into a wall and leaving him extremely disoriented and in much pain.
"You...bastard!" Vaati stuttered, still conscious, his robes ruined and his head covered in blood, as he moved to stand up, one of his feet failed him and he was forced into a half-crouch instead. A flash of surprise appears in the wind mage's eye as if he expected himself to be far more durable.
"Pathetic." The dragon mocked, "What's wrong wind mage? Not used to your own body? Did you perhaps wake up weaker than usual? A blessing for me then, as I intent to make you suffer."
"This is bad…" Zelda said and Linkle couldn't agree more, the momentum of the battle has shifted over to the dragon's side and if they don't do something. They'll be next once Vaati is killed by him.
"I-I…" Taking in a deep breath, Linkle took a step forward, weapons out and eyes determined. "I have to help out! A hero wouldn't stand by and do nothing!" but she feels a hand on her shoulder.
Coming from Impa, the Sheikah looks at her with a disapproving look, "Mere arrows won't do anything against a dragon," she replies, and continues before Linkle can argue. "Take these."
The sheikah gives her a quiver filled to the brim with arrows that have bombs attached to them.
"With it's weak-point wounded, any bomb arrow shot at it should inflict immense pain to it. Only take a shot when you feel like you can do so without consequence, unlike the demon, one good hit and that dragon will be your end. Do you understand me, young miss?"
"Yes! I will! I will!" Linkle quickly says as she snatches the arrows and loads them, for just a few feet away the dragon is now tormenting the wind mage by slowly crushing him within his claw.
From where she was standing, the dragon had it's back exposed to her. So, not wanting to ruin her shot, she had no choice but to run through the debris-filled battlefield in order to gain the optimal position to shoot it. Noticing movement from the edge of his vision, the dragon in turn grabs some of the biggest boulders in his remaining claw and threw them her way, hoping one would crush her.
Linkle however, in a display of both luck and agility, seemed to know when to suddenly change directions, when to leap at the last second, and even seemed to be using the boulders coming her way to platform to a higher and higher spot, until the dragon noticed this and not wanting to be distracted, smashed its tail against the ground to create a shock wave that destroys all the rocks.
However, instead of falling down, Linkle went up! And then time seemed to slow down once more, she noticed that a tornado was placed under her because Vaati wiggled one arm free when Onox got distracted by her. She also noticed she was way, way up in the air and once she falls, she'll have one heck of a painful landing. But most importantly of all, her current position was the perfect shot.
So she shot a bomb arrow, and another, and another, in the span of, what, five seconds that feel like one, Linkle shot about five bomb arrows from each crossbow and all of them hit the red gem, hitting the dragon hard and sending him plummeting to the ground, dazed and off-balance.
Before she knew it, Impa was already by the dragon's side, slashing down at the creature's eyes to blind it with the aid of a flurry of clones that harass it. Illusion or real, she couldn't really tell.
Besides she had another problem to worry about, or would have, if someone hadn't caught her.
"Brave and beautiful, my, you're making me want you, more and more." Linkle wasn't sure what to feel at that, but her body already seemed to decide that A) the way he's holding her in a princess carry is very comfy and B) a handsome guy is paying attention to her, don't ruin this mo-
Wait, no! He's a demon! Capital D in deception and devilishness!
"T-thanks, but you can let me go now!" Linkle tried to ask, but instead demanded.
The mage's face turned into an amused grin as he did the opposite and embraced her tighter.
"Wha-um! I said you could let me go." she replied, voice weaker than the first try.
"Even if you say that, you never said you don't want me to let go." he said, sounding as if he were completely at peace yet still managing to keep a tight hold. Linkle realized that well, he was technically right and so just gave up, she uh, did do something dangerous and deserves a rew-
A bloody scream ruined the moment, "ENOUGH OF THIS!" with Onox as the culprit, the dragon looked on absolutely infuriated with it's cracked gem and one very bloodied eye. "You pests have proven yourself more troublesome than expected, but I will not perish to the likes of you!" With a loud roar that pushed Impa back, the dragon quickly rose into the air, before moving out of sight.
"Make no mistake, I will remember this encounter and return for my revenge, Hyrule scum…"
"What a sore loser…" Vaati then laughed with a very evil smile, one that sent chills down Linkle's spine. She noticed some of his injuries were already slowly healing and his eyes were normal again.
As for the boasting, well, she definitely doesn't feel the same way. In the end the wind mage was unable of beating the dragon this time, then again, maybe he would have if he was on his own.
"Don't celebrate too soon, this fight isn't over." Impa reminded.
In response, Vaati just 'tsked' his tongue, only bothering to look at the sheikah with one eye. "Oh?"
"That's right, the army!" Zelda spoke up, both hands occupied with holding up Linkle's granny, she tended the woman to Impa and then walked over to Vaati once he finally put his feet on the ground.
"They're still attacking! Please, help us! You're the only hope Hyrule has left!"
Vaati finally faced Zelda and made his decision in less than a second.
"And what would I get out of that?" He bluntly asked, nose upturned to be as dismissive as possible. "The only reason I killed those worms was because they were in my way. I don't owe the kingdom that sealed me anything. Do you expect me to help for free? Just because you asked?"
Zelda's eyes went wide and so did Linkle's. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"If you save the kingdom, you'll be a hero." Impa flatly stated, disgust clear in her eyes but her voice took a tone fit for negotiating. "Not only would that imply all your past transgressions will be forgiven. But as history has shown to our past heroes. It could give you genuine claim to marry the princess and make you King-regent. That is the closest thing you'll ever get to ruling Hyrule."
"If I don't die in the meantime." Vaati shrugged off the blatant bait. "Maybe this kingdom should be destroyed." He turned to Linkle and smirked, again. "Linkle, was it? I'll make you my bride. Everyone else can perish for all I c-"
A loud smack interrupted his sentence, the sound of which echoed through the old shrine.
Impa showed no reaction whatsoever while Zelda and Vaati stood in silence as a red mark appeared on his face. He looked at Linkle with shock.
"Jerk! Heartless monster! What are you even saying?! You'd let innocent die?! I misjudged you!"
She quickly wriggled out of his grasp, completely disgusted by him. Vaati still looked stunned.
"I hate people like you! If you say you owe me, then you'll save my home!"
Vaati stared at her and she stared back with a glare. Darkness spiraled through his body again and his eyes glinted with murderous intent, at last, an unspoken idea seemed to make it fade away.
"A fool would sooner poison his own well than pay what he's owed," he replied, "and I am no fool. I will repay the favor but make no mistake, I will never, ever, be the dog of the royal family."
Linkle calmed down at that answer, still pouting and Zelda stared in awe of her audacity. Impa wondered if that only worked because the mage wants her but said nothing. Vaati stepped to the hole in the ceiling and turned back to look Linkle in the eyes.
"Watch this, Linkle. This will definitely ensnare your heart."
Vaati flew away so he didn't get to see her blush again. She held her hand to her chest in frustration. There was that thumping of her heart again. How could someone like that make her heart do flips?
With the help of Impa, all the girls returned to the surface just in time to see Vaati standing in the center of town. Casually posing at the top of a fountain while looking down on thousand upon thousand of monsters.
"Hear me, lowlifes," Vaati's voice reached every corner of the town. Most likely magically carried by the wind, "you've got two options."
He held up his hand with his index finger extended.
"One: you run."
He motioned his finger past his throat, like a knife slitting it. A clear threat.
"Two: you die."
Silence. Out of all the thousand of monsters, not a word was spoken. They stared at him. The monsters closest to him, a bunch of moblins, burst into hysterical laughter, the rest following suit. Some pointed as they laughed with their comrades. Vaati just grinned, eager to deliver.
"Two it is." he said as he lowered his finger, blood-lust overflowing. "This is gonna be fun."
Linkle and Zelda watched him decimate the entire army in under fifteen minutes. It was a bloodbath; by the end of it, only around a hundred of the monsters decided to flee and the rest lay in monster parts strewn across the entire castle and town. Nobody could even help him as anyone who tried to approach would be rudely pushed away by a barrier of wind, a clear message this was his slaughter to enjoy. In the end, Vaati was the only one standing, covered in blood, but also happy.
Linkle shouldn't be so attracted to him right now. He just killed countless beings and reveled in it, why would that turn her on? It looked as if Zelda was battling with the same problem when she turned away and huffed despite her blush.
"How barbaric...But, I'll have to thank him for saving us," she said.
"Thank me by getting me new clothes first."
Zelda shrieked, turning around to see him standing behind her with his arms crossed. How did he manage to do that without anyone noticing?!
He looked Linkle's way and grinned that stupid smile he considered charming but just looked smug.
"Unless you like me better that way, darling."
"N-no, thank you." Linkle replied, still feeling like she would die from how much blood went to her face every time the demon was blatantly flirting with her. Even worse with the cheese in his words.
"Also don't call me darling! We're not that close," she said with a pout, starting to get annoyed.
"Oh, would you prefer another nickname then?"
Vaati asked, rubbing one hand under his chin to look like he's deep in thought.
"Sweetheart, precious, honey, sunshine, hmm...do any of those satisfy?"
"I-I…"
"Ah, hold on, I just got it! The perfect one…"
He approached her and brought his hand up to stroke her cheek.
"My one and only…" he licked his lips, giving Linkle a closer, intimate, look into his face and eyes.
She wanted to drown in those eyes, so colorful and hypnotic, to find out how soft and warm the skin of his cheeks are, she wondered how the feel of his teeth would be against her neck, and shoulders, and back. Her eyes were at half-mast, watching Vaati's lips as they got closer, and closer, and….
The kiss never came, thanks to Zelda's intervention.
"Let's have a feast!" The new queen said quickly, tone a bit too cheerful while a glance at Linkle send the message of "Are-you-seriously-being-seduced-by-a-demon-Linkle?!". The fact her own cheeks were as red as hers was ignored as she continued. "All people of the kingdom will attend, and we will celebrate our victory!"
"Our victory?" Vaati asked with a humorous tone, regretfully, I mean, thankfully letting go of Linkle in order to look at the princess. "You mean my victory, in the honor of me saving you all."
"Yes, sure, that too." Zelda agreed, mostly to just move things along. "Then let's go!"
And celebrate they did. Out of all the surviving knights (of which there weren't many left, the majority being inexperienced rookies, but that's a problem for another time) they all bowed to Vaati, their savior. The townsfolk cheered as they watched the "sheikah" mage walk down the aisle to receive an award.
He was donned in a purple tunic and pants, one not as glorious as the one he used to have but still made him stand out among the courtiers and knights before him. His golden belt with a red eye was replaced by a similar colored belt with the eye of the sheikah instead. A decision suggested by Impa for the sake of morale and the kingdom's peace, both thing that would be threatened by the truth.
The queen gave him a bashful smile as she wielded a beautiful ceremony sword before him.
"Citizens of Hyrule, we are gathered today in both grief, and hope." she started talking to the crowd, about the lives that were lost today, about how many of them survived thanks to the courage of the hyrule knights and the prudence of the citizens who evacuated, how the city despite meeting a grand opposition managed to triumph over the army of darkness, and how we will all honor the sacrifices of those who fell in battle and those who fought. All the while, Vaati awaited in a bow.
Though his face was aimed at the floor, Linkle could tell from his body language that he seemed disinterested, though he hid it well. She couldn't help but feel nervous at the thought that at any moment he might lose patience and hop onto the stage, demanding that people pay respect to him in his attention-starving manner or straight up leave the party altogether. But the outburst never came.
He remained at attention even as Zelda read out the names of the dead on a long scroll of paper given to her by Impa. He remained a statue even as she bowed her head in prayer and thanks as the citizens bowed with her, all of them thanking the three goddesses that Hyrule hasn't fallen. He didn't move an inch even when the queen finally looked his way again and talked once more.
"Finally, there is one person who deserves special attention." Zelda said, and at that Vaati's shoulder lost a bit of tension. "One man, a scholar no less, went above and beyond his duty to Hyrule. At great risk to his life, he played a larger role in repelling the monsters than anyone else that day. Please give your respects to Gufuu."
The crowd cheered as Vaati stood up and faced the crowd, Linkle's eyes almost widened in alarm at the absolute lack of arrogance in the mage. The man standing before the queen looked humble yet no less mystifying. Nothing but kindness was in his eyes and he looked like a wise hermit.
He returned to face the queen once the cheering died down and so she spoke again, loud enough for the audience to hear, "Thank you, for your courage and heroism, it is my pleasure to appoint you…"
"As the court mage of Hyrule." She raised her blade and lowered it on each of his shoulder.
"If I may say a word, your highness." Vaati finally spoke up, the moment she was done.
Zelda nodded and the crowd fell dead silent. Curious about what he wanted to say.
"I accept this position with joy and dignity, though I must admit I never thought I would live to see this kind of situation in anything else but the realms of dreams." some of the crowd chuckled and giggled at the humor he showed. "Even so, I will say what I have always wanted to say that day."
"I was only capable of repelling these beasts with the magic I have shown at that moment. The very same magic that us Hylians of old were once capable of using. Though I will protect this kingdom with all the wisdom I posses, it is also my dream that this same magic will return to Hyrule."
"That's certainly an admirable dream." Zelda's smile continued to be wide; she didn't seem to notice any negative connotations to what he was talking about, moreso returning the interest.
"And that is why along the position you've given me. I wish for the right to study the royal archives. I believe that the knowledge hidden within them, could bring that dream one step closer."
Oh, seeing the way Impa twitched in response, that has to be one heck of a demand. Murmurs rose in the crowd, townsfolk and knight alike wondering what exactly that would bring to the future.
"Additionally, once true peace has been reestablished and all damages undone. Perhaps I could start educating those with magic potential within...say, an academy of sorts. To make magic available and accessible to all, like it once was at Hyrule's peak. Those were my requests." he ends.
"I will grant the first request, as for the second, we will see about that in time." Zelda answered, a bad answer Linkle could guess from the way Impa tightened again alongside the other sheikahs.
"Now then, with that all decided! I hope you will all enjoy our victory banquet."
Once the award ceremony ended, Vaati did not bother staying, instead leaving for the edge of the castle. Linkle followed him and they stood side by side looking out at the former battlefield.
"How come you're not staying to celebrate?" She asked, "And what was with that act of yours?"
"Just because I know how to amuse a crowd does not mean I want to mingle. I have work to do." he answered, voice flat and from the way he lent on the railing, he looked slightly worn out.
"Ah, so you're one of those types that likes to stay inside and read a book."
"Perceptive, aren't you? But you're right, books have more info and are far less nosy too." and before she could take that comment as a hint to beat it, he smiled again. "You should join me sometimes, things would be more….intense then."
"...How can reading be intense?" She didn't get it this time. To Vaati's dismay.
"Never mind…" he looked at the landscape again, the setting sun shining down on him. "By the way, where's the old woman? And I'm not talking about the Sheikah."
"Oh, granny? She's fine." She woke up earlier in the castle's infirmary, an area that was thankfully left intact. Though she couldn't attend to this event. "I'm surprised you remember her."
"She was there when I was unsealed, there's no way I'd forget a person involved in that. But more importantly, you're surprised you say? What kind of man do you think I am?"
"Not man, demon. I won't forget that so easily, no matter what you're planning to do."
At that he smiled again, knowingly, "What? Do you think I'm planning to take over the world?"
"Are you saying you're not?" she couldn't help but ask. Perhaps with a hint of sarcasm.
He hummed in thought. "If I did, what's stopping me?"
Linkle faced him and looked into his eyes, moving closer to point one finger against his chest.
"Me, the hero."
Did she just jokingly and not jokingly threaten him? Yes. Will it work? She really hopes it does.
"Hahahaha, oh Linkle," he held the finger and then her hand in his own. "that won't work. But you are something I want."
Before she could reply he stole a kiss from her, fast enough to surprise her. Although he was an absolute jerk, she melted into it and held him back. Before they could go any further, a blinding light grew brighter and brighter while a glow started to envelop him.
"No! The seal! BUT HOW-"
In an instant, Vaati dissapeared. The Golden Compass was covered in a new warmth. Linkle watched on in shock.
"So it was true…? A virgin's kiss does seal him?"
She touched the compass with one hand and stroked one of the needles. Its eye now a shader red.
As Linkle looked at the sunset on her own, she wished the mage was different. If he was just a mage with an attitude then maybe he could stay here with her. But it was then that she realized…
"Wait, isn't he expected to stay?"
If he was a done and did deal then there wouldn't have been a ceremony for him, right? It'd be strange if the "Hero of Hyrule" dissapeared the same day he appeared, right?
Does that mean she just sealed Vaati prematurely? Is he now stuck in the compass forever?
She wondered if that meant she'd get to see Vaati again. She'd decided on "Probably".
Maybe she could turn the seal off and on again? If not, then surely Zelda, Impa or even her Granny will know what to do. She couldn't help but think that today was the start of a grand adventure.
And part of her could not be excited more for tomorrow.
AN: Thanks for reading so far if you did, leave a comment if you want, yada yada. Time to ramble with the author notes!
As has been said, there's two Zelda's in this fanfic. The mother who is a wise and powerful warrior queen that has been fighting the forces of darkness for a long time now. Representing the mature Zelda one sees in like Twilight Princess and other games. And the daughter, the one that's kind, naive and also has trouble figuring out her true potential, aka the one's that's more a damsel in distress before char development. Likewise Linkle's granny is a retired badass knightess, in fact the queen's personal swordguard though Linkle doesn't know that yet, hence she was the one entrusted with the back up seal since a few years ago a splinter group of the Sheikah turned traitor (The Yiga) and so it was too risky to entrust them. The two of them will definitely have a role in this story too, despite the news of the old queen's "Death". Anyway the antagonists of this story naturally are Ganon and his three generals, Onox the demon of Fire, Veran the demon of water (I know her true form looks like a fairy and so maybe her true element would be forest, but one, vaati already does the wind element and two, shapeshifting feels like a water thing to do, don't question it, shuuuush) and another that's best left hidden for now. (which represents Earth, of course.) As for those that can tell the Bastard! inspiration. Congrats, you're right. I wanted to write a fanfic where the hero not only has to worry about the enemy but also his own ally. And I figured, hey, why not go with Vaati? His latest self doesn't remember his past and seduces maidens! Thus the plot, as for Linkle. I figured I"d go with her since her golden compass and her granny haven't had a big role in fanfics yet as far as I can tell and though a fem Link would be juicy too, at least I won't have to write an new personality when I can just use a canon one. Anyway that's the ramble done, until next time.