I had a couple of reviews from a guest named Kyle, in which he asked some questions. I would have PM'd him, but I couldn't since he was a guest so I'll answer his questions here.

1. I never said this was during the war in Ocarina of Time. It's actually supposed to be a whole different war somewhere after Twilight Princess. I'm just including a lot of references to Ocarina of Time.

2. Yes, the ending of chapter two was supposed to be a sort of dream sequence/extended metaphor.

3. I suppose if you wanted to look at the political situation of Hyrule as Democrats vs. Republicans you could. However, I was trying to avoid any content that might suggest specific political parties. I was just trying to create an idea of a king whom everyone can agree is corrupt. If anyone at all thinks anything in my story seems politically biased, please tell me.

Now for our feature presentation:

Chapter 25: Beginning the Test

"I have called this meeting to discuss Hyrule's need for another general," Semak announced as soon as the three generals were present in the Council Room. "Since I am now King, I cannot also assume the role of a general, according to law. We must find the most skilled commander in the Hylian Army and promote him."

"We know," Vothur said. "Shall we prepare the test? There is no reason to hesitate."

"Indeed. Of course, there are three parts to the test. First, the commander must fight hand to hand with all three generals. He has to beat one. Next, the commander must play a game of chess with all three generals. Again, he has to beat one. The final step in the process is the Battle of the Clay Warriors, which is how we will judge the battle strategy of the remaining commanders."

At this, the eyes of all three generals lit up. The Battle of the Clay Warriors was their favorite part of the assessment. The clay warriors were tiny, mysterious, clay figures that would obey any order given to them by he who had last laid hands on them. The generals used them to practice, and they could repair themselves when the battles were over. Nobody really knew how they worked, though. Even the Gorons had examined them and could not do much more than stare confusedly. The Clay Warriors contained magic beyond the understanding of anyone in Hyrule.

"Ah, yes, the clay warriors!" exclaimed Bied happily. "The clay warriors are always fun!" he said with a malicious smile.

"Well, don't go to hard on the commanders," Semak laughed. "Remember, the clay warriors are to be an objective, controlled assessment of the new general's strategy. It's like a school for children, in a way. No teacher would hand a child an arithmetic test for the sole purpose of stumping him. Please restrain yourselves."

"Typical Semak. Always giving lectures on how to be an effective general, or politician, or whatever. I suppose his new power hasn't changed his mentality," Sisiri commented. All the generals chuckled.

"Yes, typical me," Semak agreed.

Bied cleared his throat. "You realize there are other matters to discuss as a result of your Kingship, right?"

"Of course," Semak said. "I need to reread and sign every law of Hyrule. Personally, I'm not looking forward to that, but I suppose it's a necessity."

"Not just that. You need an heir. Don't you have a daughter?" Vothur said.

"Zelda will take the throne after me. She is currently Princess, so it would only make sense that she should be Queen."

"We don't want to rely on a Princess who is off on a secret mission that we can't even know about. One day, she runs off with you off to who knows where, you come back without her, and she hasn't been seen since. It's not that we don't trust you, but. . .how do you even know if she's alive?" Sisiri asked.

"She'd better be alive, or we're all done for," Semak muttered.

"All right!" Vothur exclaimed, pounding his fist on the table. "I want to know what's going on here! I've tried to ignore it, but I really want to know what this 'super secret mission' is!"

Semak let a deep, long sigh escape his lungs. "Fine. This will take a while to explain." Semak spoke of the state of the world. He spoke of the goddesses, of the Triforce, of the Kokiri Woods, of Link, of Zelda, and of Ganondorf. He watched their faces turn from determination to shock.

"You can't be serious!" Bied gasped. "So that's what Zelda's doing?"

Sisiri looked cynically at Semak.. "I'm not quite buying this whole 'Zelda used to be a goddess' thing."

"It's far fetched, but I just told you the story as I know it. Accept it or reject it. However, if Link and Zelda suddenly come rushing here asking for an army, don't be surprised. Meeting adjourned."

"Ha!" Sisiri exclaimed as she pointed her sword at the boy's neck. He drew back, startled. "I beat you!" Semak, currently holding a checklist, scratched the boy's name off.

"Sorry," he said. "Your combat skills are still not fit for a general. There will be another opportunity for you sometime in the future." The boy still stood there, in shock. How old was he? Seventeen, maybe? "I know this was a disappointment, but at your age, being even a commander makes you a prodigy. I assure you, you will get another shot at this in your lifetime. For now though, go back to your division."

At first, Semak thought the boy would cry. He looked like a deer cornered by Lizalfos. Instead, he turned and walked away. He walked as smoothly as possible, trying to retain as much dignity as he possibly could. Halfway to the gate of the courtyard where the first part of the test was held, he tripped and fell in the muddy grass. Struck by shame, he scrambled to his feet as fast as he could and darted off.

"That didn't go well," Bied said from the corner of the courtyard, where he and Vothur were standing.

"Over a hundred commanders will be tested. Only one will pass," Semak said contemplatively.

The next commander entered the courtyard. Vothur stepped up to face him. The man was middle aged and still muscular, with a condescending look about him. He wore a vibrantly decorated coat of red and gold. The proud man shed his coat, hung it from his belt, and drew his similarly decorated sword. The blade was encrusted with swirling ruby down its entire length. "Somebody's well adorned, I see," Semak commented, gesturing at the robe and the sword.

"I was a merchant before I joined the Army, your Majesty," the man said. "I acquired many treasures, great and small. This is not the sword I use for actual combat, though. It would be a pity to stain this great treasure with blood."

Semak laughed. "Very well, then. You shall fight Vothur."

The man eyed the pale, thin figure, scanning him over with distaste. He was obviously underestimating the general. The two men battled, and the commander's face became wrecked with annoyance as he couldn't touch the tip of his sword to Vothur's armor. The general had a unique style of fighting to conserve energy as much as possible. He never used a shield and held his sword upright with both hands. Rather than trying to block with his sword, he was well practiced at quick sidesteps because of his frail arms.

The match continued for some time, and in the end Vothur had not been defeated. The commander, finding a sword aimed at his heart, swallowed his pride and dropped his own shining sword, where it was smudged by dirt. "You have beaten me," he said simply.

"Next," Semak called out. Bied stepped up. Once again, the commander was beaten. He could not move his sword like the experienced warrior could, weaving it about in tactical and deceptive ways. The commander did not appear angry, and the three generals were oblivious. However, Semak noticed the anger. He had been around soldiers long enough to detect when one was getting angry. There were two types of anger: hot anger and cold anger. If the commander's anger had been hot, it would have controlled him. However, his anger was cold, so he could use it to his advantage. No longer was he haughty, but instead energized.

With a smirk, Sisiri stepped up to the middle of the courtyard and looked up into his determined face. "Just because I am a woman, Bied is an old man, and Vothur is ill doesn't mean we are weak," she said. She drew her sword and the two fought. This battle was long and evenly matched. Sword against sword, the two fought for at least ten minutes. Eventually, though, the commander was able to pull off a tricky maneuver that wrenched the sword out of Sisiri's hand. It went flying off to the side and tumbled into the dirt.

Sisiri didn't even let this bother her. She executed an agile duck under the commander's next swipe, and then dashed for her own. Her mistake, however, was to turn her back. Next thing she knew, she tripped over the commander's foot and landed face first in the dirt. With regained pride, he pointed his sword at Sisiri's back and turned to face Semak. "A fair win, your Majesty?"

Semak smiled. "Indeed."