The Sage Room had fallen on hard times. The magical flames that lit up the room were now just little more than flickers. The pale light they shot out was barely enough to lite up the six Sages in their weakened forms. Each one of the Sages was kneeling on their pedestals, nearly drained of all their strength. Their faces were drawn and lifeless. It was as if all six of them were dead. The only sign that they were still alive was their heavy breathing.

As the Sages laid there, pouring what little power they had left into the seal on the Evil Realm, a bright light appeared from up above. It flew down quickly and landed on the Triforce pedestal in the middle of the room. Upon landing the light transformed into Alexis. Once she was finished transforming and opened her eyes, she was shocked and horrified by what she was seeing. It was a grim sight to behold.

"Sages!" she managed to burst out. "What's happened to all of you?"

"Our powers are beginning to falter," explained Rauru through heavy breaths. "It won't be long now before we have nothing left to give."

"What will happen to the seal when your powers are gone though? Better yet, what will happen to you guys?"

"What happens to us is irrelevant," said Darunia. "All that matters is the seal, and if need be we will sacrifice ourselves to ensure that the seal remains and that Ganon stays locked away. We will not allow him to join forces with his father."

"I take it that since you are standing before us you have either succeeded in your mission or have failed," said Rauru.

"No, our mission was a success, I think," said Alexis. "Tell me, was the whole point of going there so that Link and Zelda could enter the Triforce room?"

"Yes. What Link and Zelda learned in that room may well be the only hope Hyrule has."

"But why didn't you tell me? We could have saved so much time by just having Link and Zelda go into the room when we arrived."

"We couldn't," stated Nabooru. "In order for Link and Zelda to enter that room they needed to have been accepted by the goddesses themselves. We weren't even sure if they would be accepted."

"So you basically sent us on a wild goose chase while the fate of Hyrule hung in the balance?"

"Yeah, if you want to think about it that way," said Ruto. "There was no doubt in my mind that they could do it. What two people have done more in the name of Hyrule than those two? If they weren't worthy enough, then I doubt that anyone would ever be allowed in there."

"But you still should have told me. If I had known and we couldn't get into that room, then we could've come back here and prepared our defenses rather than reading through all those books for no reason."

"You still fail to understand the situation," said Impa. "Hyrule stands on the brink of destruction. Everything that can be done must be done in order to prevent that from happening. Why do you think we are so weakened? Much of our power went into bringing you here to help. In times like these we cannot leave a stone unturned."

"Hold on a second. I'm the reason you guys are so weak?"

"Do not worry yourself," said Rauru. "Just like you and the others have to do all in your power to help save Hyrule, so do we. We were already weakened when we made the decision to bring you here. As a result we could not take part in this war. That's why we have you. Through you we will be aiding Hyrule. Do you understand now?"

"Yes, I think so. I just have one question though. What is it that Link and Zelda learned in that room? What was so important that we had to risk our lives to get it?"

"Even we do not know the contents of that room," explained Saria. "The only ones with the answer to that are the goddesses, and now Link and Zelda. I am sure that you will learn what they know in good time."

"Let's just hope that it all wasn't in vain. I suppose that I'm still not allowed to reveal my true identity to them?"

"Now more than ever!" piped up Rauru as if he had just gotten a sudden burst of strength. "Everyone is going to need a clear head going into this war. If you reveal yourself now, a day and a half before the war begins, you could cause serious damage."

"But I think that Link should know at least. He should know that he isn't alone in this."

"Link is the last person you can tell and you know it!" shouted Impa. "He will be the most affected by this news. He is the one person we cannot afford to have distracted."

"But he suspects something. I've had to do nothing but dodge his questions throughout our entire journey so far. I'm afraid that if I don't tell him he isn't going to trust me. For all I know he could think I'm working for Lord Arcana."

"We just have to risk it," said Ruto. "I know you care for Link, I do too, but we must do what's best for Hyrule at the moment. Link is a smart guy though. If he figures it out on his own, well there's nothing we can do about that. Just do all in your power to make sure he doesn't figure it out."

"Do not worry young one," said Rauru. "When this is all over there will be no more secrets. You can tell whoever you like. Now go! You have a war to prepare for, and we have a seal to keep intact."

"As you wish," said Alexis. "Hyrule will not fall."

Link awoke the following morning sore. Sure he trained from time to time, but he hadn't been in a battle like the one he had with those stone statues in over seven years. His body just wasn't used to it. He inched his way out of bed and began stretching. He stretched for a good twenty minutes knowing that he had to be in top form for the upcoming war. He couldn't afford to have his body give out on him.

When he finished stretching and the soreness had left him, he pulled on his trusty old tunic, grabbed his sword, and headed out of the room. The castle was busier than he had ever seen it. There were knights running all over the place carrying weapons, wood for barricades, and other assorted items to help prepare. It was obvious to Link by the way everyone was acting that someone had already told the king that the war would start the next day around dusk.

Now even though Link saw plenty of knights running around, he didn't see one Royal Guard anyplace. The only explanation that Link could come up with was that they were all out training the civilians that had been drafted into the army. Link stepped out of the hallway he was walking down and emerged on one of the castle balconies. As he looked out he could see hundreds of people training for what would probably be their death sentence. As he looked Link couldn't help but wonder exactly how many, if any, were going to come back out of this alive.

Link soon spotted Gerik down below training some of the people. By the looks of it he had challenged ten of them to attack him, and he in turn would defend himself. They were all using wooden swords. Link guessed that he was not only training them how to fight and defend, but also how to work together. Now that Link knew where Gerik was, he turned around to go there. When he turned around though, Zelda was standing there.

"Wow!" Link said jumping back a little by this sudden surprise.

"Oh sorry," said Zelda, "I didn't expect you to turn around then. How do the troops look?"

"I won't know for sure until I get down there. Gerik's already down there training some of the troops."

"Well did you see Alexis down there? I was hoping that she could help me hone my magical abilities."

"I wasn't really looking, but I didn't see her. I only got up a little while ago, so I have no clue where she is."

"I don't know where she is either. I went to her room earlier this morning, but she wasn't there. I've been searching the castle all day. I guess I better go check the market then."

"Well I'll walk down with you. Come on."

Link and Zelda walked off the balcony and back into the castle. As they made their way through the castle, Zelda couldn't help but look at all the knights running around the castle. She saw the worry and fear that was on all of their faces. It was enough to make her own fears and worry come out. It hadn't really hit her up till now how dire the situation really was.

"Link," she said suddenly as they were walking, "do you think we're going to make it?"

"What?" asked Link, startled by this sudden question."

"Do you think we're going to make it? Do you think we can actually win this war?"

"My honest answer; I don't know. No matter how well prepared you are, no matter which side you're on, no matter your advantages, there will always be doubt. There are so many factors that can't be calculated in a war. All you can truly do is try your hardest. If it makes you feel any better Hyrule has never lost a war in its entire history."

"But going along those same lines isn't there always a first time for everything?"

"True. Where is all this coming from?"

"I don't know. I'm just afraid. I'm afraid of losing everything I have, and everything I've yet to get. This is just so different from Ganon's war, and I don't know why. What's going to happen if we win, or for that matter what's going to happen if we lose? Will there even be a Hyrule left for us if we win?"

"I don't know what's going to happen, but no matter what happens we'll get through it together."

"Oh Link, that's so sweet."

Zelda leaned over and rested her head against Link's shoulder as they continued to walk through the castle. Link was a little confused by this and wasn't sure what to do. Slowly he raised his arm and put it around Zelda. He knew Zelda needed to be comforted at the moment, and this was the only thing he could think of. The truth of the matter though, was that Link was just as scared as Zelda was. He couldn't let her know that for fear of worrying her more, so he decided to change the subject.

"So, have you noticed that Gerik and Alexis have been acting differently?" he asked.

"First you're suspicious of Alexis, and now you're suspicious of the both of them?" Zelda stated in a huff.

"No, that's not what I meant. Yes I'm still suspicious of Alexis, but I'm talking about the way Gerik and Alexis have been acting ever since Alexis went to talk with him back at the temple. They both seem a lot happier for one thing."

"Well Gerik did like her. Maybe he actually asked her out."

"Wait, how the hell do you know Gerik likes Alexis?"

"Must I remind you that Gerik and I were childhood friends? I'd be the first to know if he's in love. Actually, if I remember correctly this is the first girl he's ever liked."

"And that's one of the major reasons I don't think he asked her out. He's a fighter, not a lover. Something tells me he'd be too chicken."

"He's not the only one," Zelda said under her breath.

"What was that?" asked Link.

"Oh, I was just saying that maybe Alexis asked him out then. Either way I'm sure that they're going out. I think they make a perfect couple. I just wonder why they haven't told us?"

"I'm sure they have their reasons. It's really not something we need to worry about now. We have plenty more important things to worry about than who's going out with who."

Link and Zelda now walked across the drawbridge and out into the bright, sunny day. The sounds of wooden practice swords clashing as well as arrows flying through the air toward targets could be heard all around the area in front of the castle. Careful not to get in anyone's way, Link an Zelda made their way over to where Gerik was still practicing with those ten draftees.

All ten were still attacking Gerik, so Link figured that he was going easy on them and wasn't retaliating, that he was just simply defending. Link could tell that they were getting better, but in a real battle they would all be slaughtered by Gerik in mere seconds. Link was really surprised though at how well they were all working together. The ten of them kept trying different strategies, and when one didn't work they immediately switched to another. A thought then came to Link's mind and a crooked smile crossed his face. Zelda saw this and wondered what Link was about to do.

"Hey Gerik," cried Link, "how are things going?"

"Huh, what," stammered Gerik as he looked to see who had called him. "Oh Link, Zelda, it's owww."

With Gerik momentarily distracted, the ten draftees rushed forward and hit him with their wooden swords. Gerik got hit in the legs, chest, arms, and once in the head. Link just started laughing hysterically as Gerik fell to the ground. Link was very pleased to see that his joke had worked. Though Zelda didn't really approve of it, she couldn't help but crack a smile herself.

"Well, well, well," said Link while still laughing a little. "It's good to see that your Sheikah skills are as sharp as ever."

"Hah," Gerik yelled trying to sound serious. "You think that you tricked me into getting attacked, but actually I did that to prove a point. The most important thing to remember on the battlefield is to never get distracted. If you allow yourself to get distracted, then you'll be killed just as I would've been had those been real swords. Now go and take a breather before our next lesson."

"Are you okay Gerik?" asked Zelda with a smirk on her face knowing that what he just said was a load of crap."

"Yeah, I'll be fine. What the hell was the big idea doing that?"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist," Link replied with a grin. "Moving on to serious business though; how do the troops look?"

"They all certainly got potential; that's for sure. The problem though, is that it would take about a year to even start bringing that potential out. There's no way we can get these guys ready by tomorrow night."

"Unfortunately we've got no choice. We either train them how to fight and defend themselves, or they'll be slaughtered."

"I have a feeling they're going to be slaughtered anyway."

"Um, I hate to break up this cheerful conversation," interrupted Zelda, "but Gerik, have you seen Alexis this morning."

"Who me?" Gerik said all excitedly while his face became slightly red. "Why would I know where Alexis is?"

Link and Zelda just looked at each other with knowing glances. The two of them then suppressed a chuckle as they turned back to look at Gerik, who's face was still a little red.

"I was just wondering if you knew," said Zelda. "Link has no idea where she is, and I checked the entire castle. I was just hoping that you might've known."

"Oh, well sorry," Gerik replied. "I've been out here training the troops since I got up. I can't guarantee that she never passed by, but I haven't seen her."

"Hmm, I wonder where she could be."

"Hey guys!" someone cried from far away.

Link, Gerik, and Zelda all turned toward where the voice had come from. It had come from the direction of Hyrule Market, and running from there to them was Alexis. She was waving to them and had a smile on her face, but Link thought that her smile looked a little fake, as if she was trying to cover up something that she knew. Link was beginning to wonder how she had gotten passed Gerik, but seeing as how Gerik had been training the troops she could have easily slipped by him.

"So where have you been?" Link asked blatantly when she caught up to them.

"I was out checking the outer defenses," she replied without hesitation. "I doubt very much that we'll succeed if we're pushed back to the castle during the early stages of the war. If the outer defenses can hold long enough, then we may have a chance if we do get pushed back."

"Next time you should tell someone," said Zelda. "I was looking all over the place for you. I wanted to know if you could help me hone my magic skills."

"Sure, no problem. Let's go get started right away. See you two later."

"Well I guess it's back to training the troops for me, and you as well," said Gerik as Zelda and Alexis walked off to go train in some secluded area. "Want to join me or do you want to get your own group?"

"I have some things to take care of first," replied Link. "When I'm finished I'll go get my own set of troops to train. I'll see you later."

"Um, all right. See you later then."