A/N:
Right off the bat, I'd like to give a huge thanks to Norkix (here on FFnet) for agreeing to beta read this story. His help has been invaluable so far, and he's a blast to work with; so, thank you!
The cover art is a commission I received from BuggedFrogg (through Reddit). Their work is fantastic and I recommend others to check them out!
This is the first fanfiction that I've written and posted online, but I've been in the fanfiction community for a long time as a reader. I'm really excited to finally participate and add more stories to the communities I love, and I'm starting off strong with one of my all-time favorite games - The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap.
I'll aim to post the first real chapter soon hereafter. I hope you enjoy!
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Time had passed by in a whirlwind ever since that fabled day in Hyrule Castle. Link, the chosen Hero of the Minish, had narrowly managed to restore the Four Sword and defeat Vaati mere moments before he could extract the Light Force from Princess Zelda and plunge Hyrule into eternal darkness. The monsters that had treacherously roamed the kingdom vanished, eliciting fervent cheers across Hyrule as the people rejoiced in the momentous victory.
What had typically marked the annual Picori Festival was quickly revised to now honor Hyrule's savior as well. Mutoh and his lumbering crew crafted shining bronze statues in Link's tribute before pitching them in Hyrule Town's main plaza, Pina and Brocco put their differences aside and supplied hulking baskets of produce, and Princess Zelda oversaw every minute detail of the joyous celebration, exhausting the castle staff and helping hands alike. Link was commemorated raucously–drinks, food, and even the hands of women (much to Link's discomfort) being offered to him with hearty conviction.
Five years had seemingly trickled away into nothingness in the blink of an eye.
Though many changes had occurred during this time, countless things remained the same. Mayor Hagen continued expanding his collection of bizarre jewel-toned masks, the citizens were oft forgetting to return their dust-covered rental books, and Anju's Cuccos thrived off of sheer mayhem; escaping their coop and dashing throughout Hyrule Town maddeningly. Amongst these trivial continuities, Zelda also continued to escape the watchful eyes of the castle guards to secure moments of peace alone with Link, just as she always had. After all, the pair had already been close friends before chaos struck all those years ago, with the harrowing fear of evil only serving to bond them even closer still.
At least once a week Zelda would appear knocking on Master Smith and Link's door, and at that same time each week Link would have hot scones from Wheaton and Pita's Bakery freshly arranged at their dining table, whilst Master Smith would brew bitter tea and serve it in chipped ceramic mugs.
Link and Zelda were inseparable, causing a hum of feverish chatter regarding the nature of their unlabeled relationship to circulate throughout Hyrule Town with accelerated success. For the most part, they both ignored any speculation. Link had risked his life to rescue Princess Zelda and maintain Hyrule's bustling serenity all those years ago–how could they turn a blind eye and pretend their bond hadn't solidified after that?
Yet every so often, whilst they pleasantly conversed about silly stories or Link's adventures amongst the Minish, their hands would gingerly brush and silence would quickly engulf the room, only the thrum of their lively heartbeats intruding on the stillness. Sometimes, their eyes would lock for a moment too long in between mouthfuls of friable pastries, and a dusting of blush would blot out the peachiness of their cheeks as they each struggled to regain their composure.
Certainly, as time swung on its healing pendulum, it brought with it tranquility across Hyrule–for both its people and the land alike, with an ever-glowing warmth enveloping each expanse in stride.
Though, in absolute truth, that aurulent peace was not felt by everyone within Hyrule's boundaries. There was one forlorn pocket just barely out of reach.
Inside its Sanctuary, the Four Sword hummed in resonance with the magical barrier that encircled its blade. To the guards who paced around the luxurious garden that surrounded the Sanctuary, nothing seemed amiss. They were accustomed to the sound, and unaware that the prisoner bound inside the sacred blade was stirring.
"This has to work," came a murmur from within the endless void, "I can't afford failure."
Shackled inside the amorphous steel confines of the Four Sword resided none other than Vaati, the meticulous sorcerer who had nearly destroyed Hyrule and enslaved the populace all those years ago.
His prison mutated beyond emptiness; there was no warmth, no frigid chill, no light, not even darkness to be found. Nebulous shapes would come and go in what could be called his vision, and the clash of blaring sound and silence haunted him. Despite his best efforts, he could not blink away the unseemly imagery, nor could he block out the earsplitting disruptions that seemed to coincide around him all at once.
For Vaati, these passing years had felt like centuries, and as time crumpled forwards, so did he.
"How foolish I was," he continued solely to himself, "I should have turned that stupid child into stone when I first encountered him."
Slivers of phantom colors and vivid blackness spun amongst the neverending confines, bringing forth a surge of irritation within him.
"Although," he considered dully, "that moronic 'hero' did reveal the source of the Light Force to me..."
The ebb and flow of everything and nothingness weaned on for another passing second as Vaati lingered, working to compile his thoughts fully.
"I suppose I should thank him," he finally admitted, a fanatical lilt growing in his voice. "In any case, he'll be the one to receive the credit he deserves when I'm freed." If he had had a palpable form amongst the shackles of his prison, a hair-raising grin would have been plastered on his face. "Oh, I truly can't wait."
The sky bled hot gold before morphing into a sea of orange and deep reds swirling above the clouds. In a blink, flecks of stars began painting the open air like a fresh canvas, and the town's busy noise settled down to a simmered hush. Lanterns flickered on, and the nightly patrol of guardsmen dotted the pathways, startling the stray cats and dogs that were wrestling for leftover crumbs. It was a peaceful night like any other before it.
And yet, no one could have known about the murkiness that had begun crackling and churning from the depths of the Four Sword Sanctuary, seeping from the legendary blade and devouring the atmosphere whole.
A boundless chuckle echoed from within the partitions of the Four Sword.