The Final Sage


"Well, that was exciting." Skull Kid tossed his shield aside, stretching. "But let's not do it again. So, what now?"

Navi approached from the direction of the jars. She hovered nervously around Link, tiny fingers poking at his wound. She sighed, shaking her head, then turned away. "I hate to rush everyone along. I know everyone is tired. But... we have a duty to accomplish here. Link, you need to play the song."

Right, the song. Link nodded wearily, reaching into his bag with his good arm. He started to reach up with his injured arm, only to stop, wincing and letting out a tiny whine. Whatever had allowed him to power through the pain in the fight was gone now, leaving behind fresh agony and radiating heat.

Navi turned back, saw him struggle with his bag, and let out a gasp. "Oh, goddess, I hadn't thought of what we'd do if you were too injured to play." She cupped her hands over her mouth. "Now what are we supposed to do?"

No. He couldn't have come this far, just to fail. Just to give in to some stupid injury. Through gritted teeth, Link growled, "I'll. Manage."

Slowly, fighting through the pain, he raised the ocarina in both hands. Then he began to play. His first few notes were uncertain, wavering, and punctuated with pauses as he fought through the pain. The melancholic tune waved through the air. Carrying a feeling of quiet sadness, but also of hope. It suited the mood, Link thought.

As the last note faded away, Link looked up at Nabooru, noticing the dazed, unfocused expression on her face. That had to mean it worked, right?

"How can this be?" Nabooru mumbled.

"This is the role you're meant to play," Navi said, taking over for Link. "You, me, everyone here. We've all been tied together by fate."

Nabooru nodded slowly. "I... I think I understand. I am just... surprised. My people's relationship with Hyrule has been tenuous for as long as I can remember, since before I was born, even. So to be chosen for something like this."

"The princess believes this is a chance for new hope. That we, the people within Hyrule, and at its borders, will be able to come together for a better future." She let out a long sigh. "Speaking of the princess..."

Navi turned to face Link. "Nabooru, please help by bringing us to the Sacred Realm. You should know how in your heart. We... have a lot to talk about, before we can face Ganondorf."

"Of course. All three of you?"

"No, just myself and Link."

"Yeah, I don't wanna mess with your stinky secret meetings," Skull Kid chimed in. "I bet they're booooooring."

Nabooru chuckled. "I like this one, he's funny."

"Please don't encourage him," Navi sighed, watching as Skully pridefully puffed out his chest. "We better get moving, before there are more interruptions."

"Very well." And just like that, Nabooru was back to business. "Now, take a deep breath…"


A chorus of shocked gasps greeted Link as his form, his spirit, appeared in the sacred realm. His vision clearing, he looked up to the faces of the sages, their expressions mixed between worry and... awe?

"It finally happened," Rauru whispered, hands behind his back. "I was beginning to think we were wrong."

"Link, your arm!" Distress colored Saria's tone. "Great Farore, what happened?"

"We dealt with Ganondorf's closest allies, that's what happened." All eyes turned to the newcomer, Nabooru, who stood with her arms crossed on the final dias.

Mumbled greetings passed between the other sages before Darunia's voice cut through. "You must pardon our rudeness. Our ability to perceive events in the natural world is limited without sending out an avatar or being present ourselves. We have no clue how you woke or how Link ended up in this state. Please, explain."

Nabooru nodded, recounting the fight with Twinrova to the other sages. While she did so, Link sat down, allowing his hand to trail through the shallow water as confusion clouded his mind. Navi landed on his head, giving him a quick tap a few minutes later.

"Hey, time to pay attention again."

Link looked up just in time to hear Impa say, "Thank you for doing what I could not. I..." She took a deep breath. "As the rest of you know, I failed in my royal duties recently. Zelda, our leader and my charge, was taken captive by the Twinrova in the Shadow Temple after revealing her piece of the Triforce. My failure has caused her to fall into Ganondorf's clutches."

"Wait, what?" Link tilted his head. "What do you mean, Zelda was captured? Not her, too?"

Impa hesitated, and in the pause, Rauru gestured to her and bowed his head. "The time for secrecy is over."

Darunia crossed his arms. "I understand your concerns, but the time to be honest was some time ago. Link's a good kid." Saria nodded in agreement, though Link caught Ruto looking uncertain.

Rauru sighed. "I believe you're right. Impa, if you would."

Impa took a deep breath. "You are right. Link, the truth is... Sheik is Princess Zelda. I fled with the princess when Ganondorf attacked the castle, and took her outside the Hyrule borders. After discussion, we decided the safest option was for her to... disappear. I trained her in the way of the Sheikah, and she took on a new identity."

Another deep breath. "When you were finally ready to wake again, we agreed that the best option was to keep her identity secret from you. At least, until your curse was cleared. As you already learned, she held one of the pieces of the Triforce. To both be the last surviving royalty and to have a piece of the Triforce... It made her a high-priority target for Ganondorf."

Link's mouth hung open. All this time, Zelda was right there? A part of him felt hurt, left out of the secret for so long due to distrust. Another part of him understood entirely. After what he did to the previous sages, and what he did to Saria... He understood why Zelda — or anyone else — wouldn't feel safe with him knowing.

"I... I see..." Link mumbled. "Thank you for letting me know."

Rauru cleared his throat. "There is more. I want you to take a look at your hand. No, the other one"

Link raised his injured arm — it didn't hurt so bad, here, in this spiritual space — and studied his palm before turning it over to look instead at the back. He let out a surprised, alarmed squeak. Three triangular marks decorated his hand, forming a bigger triangle. Two of them were dark, gouged into his bark, and blackened like a burn. But the other one, the one on the bottom right, gave off a gentle golden glow.

"We were... uncertain when it would wake within you," Rauru began, clasping his hands together. "We were starting to think it hadn't actually come to you. You see... When Ganondorf tried to take the Triforce for himself, the imbalance in his heart caused it to scatter. One part, the Triforce of Power, remained with him. Another, the Triforce of Wisdom, went to Zelda and awakened at a later date. And the final piece, the Triforce of Courage, slept within you all this time, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself."

"Me?" Link stared intently at his hand. "What does it mean?"

"According to our legends, it means the Goddesses saw something in you and blessed you with their divine power. They see you as a paragon of Courage and trust in you to do right.

"I'll admit, when I first saw you, I had my doubts. We — myself and the previous sages — knew for a long time that a hero would come from the forest. We hadn't expected you to be, well, like you are. And so much of what we believed has played out differently."

Rauru sighed. "I apologize for my uneasiness. You have proven yourself time, and time again. But now... Now, we must request your help one final time. Go to Ganondorf's castle. We will use our power to help you reach him. Free Zelda, and stop him, before it's too late. Before he has the chance to obtain the remaining pieces of the Triforce. Will you do this for us?"

Link didn't have to think about it. There would be a time to process everything Rauru told him. To let himself feel hurt or feel understanding. Perhaps on his way to the castle. But for now, he nodded.

"Excellent. Then you shall leave for the castle at once. Navi, tell him everything you know."

"Of course," Navi began. "But..."

"But?"

"But what of his arm?" She bobbed up and down near Link's injury.

"I'm afraid there isn't time for him to heal," Rauru replied with a shake of his head. "Now that the Triforce has manifested inside him, Ganondorf must have felt it. He will hunt Link down mercilessly if he doesn't come to him."

"I'll manage," Link cut in, tone solemn.

Navi turned towards him, worried. "Are you sure?"

"I have to. Zelda is in danger." It was as simple as that. "I'll... I'll figure out how to use my other arm along the way."

Darunia raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I admire your courage, Brother, but it's not that simple to use your non-dominant arm." Link only tilted his head, so Darunia continued. "Your skill will be weaker. Sword fighting is something that takes years and years of experience to train with one arm. To learn to use the other? That takes even more work."

"I don't know about that." Link replied. "I just sort of picked up a sword one day and did fine. Sure it'll be a little harder with my other hand, but... But I have to do this."

Darunia sighed. "Very well. But be careful. You're important to me. To everyone here, even if they're hesitant to admit it." He winked in Ruto's direction.

"Before you go," Nabooru said, bringing Link's attention back to her. "Please, allow me to give you a symbol of my power. You may need it in the trials ahead."

Like the other sages before her, she held her hands to her chest, light swirling around until it coalesced and burst apart, leaving behind a bronze medallion.

Link stared down at the medallion, then looked up to the faces surrounding him. "Thank you. I promise I'll make everything right."

His vision started to fade, but even as it did he still heard the voices of the sages, sending him encouragement.

"Link, you are ready," said Rauru.

Nabooru chimed in next. "You've done great, kid. Make us proud."

"I trust you to save the princess," Impa added.

"Hmph." Ruto's voice was haughty as always. "You've done alright, after all. I was right to trust you back then."

"You'll always be my brother, Link. Take a piece out of Ganondorf for me!" Darunia's laughter followed, nearly drowning out the final voice.

"Link... I believe in you."


Link slowly sat up.

Across from him, Nabooru sat cross-legged, breathing deeply with her eyes still closed. Her spirit remained in the Sacred Realm and likely would stay there for a time before returning to the physical world to deal with the two corpses in the room.

As he stood up, he caught sight of Skull Kid on the far side of the room, sitting with his back turned and shoulders hunched.

Concern crossed his mind. Quietly, he padded over to Skull Kid, stopping a few steps away. "Skully..?"

It took a moment for Skull Kid to respond. He perked up, springing to his feet. "Finally! I thought you were going to take forever!"

Something about the way he spoke seemed forced. "Are you okay?"

"Never better! Why wouldn't I be? Come on, let's get out of here. The sooner we finish your journey, the sooner we can get home."

Link knew Skull Kid well enough to tell he was hiding something. He was upset, but Link wasn't sure how or why.

"You know you can talk to me, right?"

Skull Kid's cheeky expression faltered. His eyes darted in the direction of Link's burn, then he crossed his arms, turning his head away. "I told you, I'm fine. A-and even if I wasn't, it's not something I'd want to talk about anyways." He forced his cheerful expression again. "Come on, we're wasting time!"

With that, he scampered off, disappearing out of the room.

"He was like this in the Water Temple, too," Navi said, coming up to Link's side. "Whatever he saw in that trap you two sprung really shook him up. I wonder if this is related?"

Link stared towards where Skull Kid disappeared. "I don't know," he admitted with a shake of his head. "I just wish he'd tell me."


Something was wrong.

Ganondorf could feel it in his bones. In the way his hand itched and ached burned. It felt like a subtle shift in the air. Like the winds had changed.

He'd felt this way before, when the Triforce of Wisdom first manifested in the princess, years ago. And then again, when she'd revealed it recently for whatever ploy she'd attempted to pull.

The last piece finally manifested.

This should be a moment of triumph.

So why did he only feel unease?

The Twinrova, his valuable allies and adoptive mothers, were due for a report shortly. He could speak with them, have them mobilize more of his forces. If the last piece has appeared, there was no time to waste.

He rose from his obsidian throne, footsteps echoing in the empty grand hall as he made his way to the balcony. Thoughts swirled in his head, ideas for how he'd gloat and torment the princess, how he'd take the Triforce from her and the foolish third who held the Triforce of Courage.

Atop his balcony, he could see the land of Hyrule stretching for miles. He admired the land around his castle. Though destroyed now, when he'd gained ultimate power, he would reshape it in his image. Burnt fields could still beget bountiful crops. And he'd have an army to feed. But not before he'd wiped the remaining settlements that had dared oppose him off the map.

The grass truly was greener in Hyrule. And once he'd crushed the last of the rebellions, those fertile lands would be all his.

But what was taking Koume and Kotake so long?

He glanced up at the sun, realizing it was well past midday. They should be back by now.

Worry clouded his thoughts, but he brushed it aside. They must have been delayed. It was rare, but there were times when it was necessary.

But as the sun crept closer and closer to the horizon, his worries returned. And by the time night fell, he had to admit the truth.

They weren't coming.

Something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.

A million possibilities ran through his head. One of their experiments went wrong. One of his people lashed out, and they were too late to stop her. A monster rebelled. One of their possessed pawns broke free of their control.

Or perhaps...

His attention shifted back to his hand, and the itching scratching feeling. The last Triforce manifested not long after he'd last seen the Twinrova. It wasn't outlandish to assume its holder was somehow involved.

Perhaps it was the very person that had undone all his hard work in the other temples. And if that was the case... He expected they would come here next.

Rage bubbled in his veins as he let out a scream — a roar — of unbridled fury. Magic manifested in his hands, sparks raining down as he turned and slammed a fist into the wall, leaving a sizable dent.

He channeled his anger inside, manifesting it as more power. Infinite power. The power of the Triforce burned in his veins, burned in his very soul.

"Very well," he growled, disappearing back to the darkness of his castle. "Come. Face me, hero. My army will tear you to shreds. And when they are through with you, I will enjoy watching the light fade from your eyes as your helpless princess watches on."