Winds of Desperation - Vaati x Female Reader (BotW AU)

Misguided

Your strange visions had left you restless that night. As a result, your mind and body kept racing and functioning improperly. It didn't help that the first thing you saw when you opened your eyes was Zelda still sleeping in the dark, shuffling as if she were having a nightmare herself. Even though there was still an hour left until dawn came, you decided to get up and go outside...

A lot of things kept going through your mind. Such as what would happen if you had to dispose of Link eventually.
Even if things came to that as a last resource, the thought of the pain that would inflict upon Zelda tugged at your heart strings... You could tell those two really cared about each other.

And... in a way, you were indebted to Link. He was the one who had been at Zelda's side all these years. Not you. No. Not you.

Because you left her behind.

If only she could know how much you thought of her all those years, how much you wanted to free her from her restricted life filled with blame and guilt... If only she knew that those who said her sister hated her for representing her own failures were nothing but liars, if only she knew that you had always loved her and kept her in your mind...

Why did I ever leave you behind...?

...

Pathetic.

You, love someone? Especially her? You were a shameless snake who had brought countless people to ruin. Your only priority was to gain more power, and not for any selfish reasons. You fought for a greater cause. That is how it had always been.

What is wrong with wanting more power? What is wrong with wanting to become stronger? When thinking logically, shouldn't everyone strive to become more powerful? Shouldn't everyone strive to be able to see their ideals realized? Whether those ideals be a safer life for one's family, a bountiful and prosperous way of living, to punish the unjust, to reach grander heights, or to leave their name written in history... is it really wrong to seek power?

"...Paya." Link's voice snapped you out of your thoughts.

...Right... You were 'Paya' at this moment. And you were supposed to call Vaati 'Ezlo', and Zelda was going by the name of 'Tetra'. You had forgotten all about in your current state.

"Oh. Link? What is it?"

"I called out your name several times already. Are you feeling alright?" He asked politely. He couldn't afford to show the fact that he was suspicious of you.

You shook your head slightly to clear your thoughts. "Don't worry, I am alright. I was just lost in thought." You answered. "It's still quite early. Is there something wrong?"

"No. I always wake up at around this hour. Tetra can afford to sleep in, but I need to get all the training I can get."

Of course. I could see how strict your father was with the other knights since before you were born.

"I see... Well, I must admit that is a very admirable thing to do. I don't think I could manage to do that every single day... Tell me, were you born into a family of knights, by any chance?" You sounded genuinely curious, as if you didn't really know the truth already.

"Yes. What of it?"

"Ah, I see. Yeah, sounds like a knight's behavior to me."

"What about you and Ezlo? Are you his apprentice?"

"Hmm... You could say that, in a way. We rival each other in some things, and he's better than me in most of those, such as swordsmanship and magic. We have different strengths though, so we help each other out. I was instructed on how to handle a bow by one of the Rito, so I'm obviously more skilled than him on that. If we were to talk about physical strength, though? I'm nothing against him. Don't let that pretty face of his fool you. He's a beast."