Chapter 1
Princess Zelda is in her castle with her new friend, Masaru. She is showing him a hall full of magnificent things. Masaru glances around in awe and sees the hall contains fancy vases, sculptures, paintings, and, at the very end of the hall, a large wooden box with golden rims. Princess Zelda stops just short of the mysterious box before turning to face Masaru.
"Well, that's all in this hallway, any questions?" Princess Zelda asks.
"Yeah, I have a question. What's up with that box? It seems kinda out of place in this hall," Masaru replies, pointing to the mysterious box.
"Oh! That box! That's...nothing," Princess Zelda says, putting her gloved hands to her mouth.
"Can I open the box, then? You know, because it's empty?" Masaru asks as he approaches the box.
"No! Do not open it! Whatever you do, never open the box!" Princess Zelda cries out, suddenly seeming incredibly desperate.
"You said it was nothing," Masaru states, sounding a bit confused and disappointed at the same time.
"Well, it's nothing that'd interest you," Princess Zelda clarifies, hoping to discourage the boy.
With that, Princess Zelda takes hold of Masaru's hand very motherly (gently, yet, ever so firmly). Masaru's gaze turns from ths mystery box to the gloved hand holding his. With a gentle tug, Princess Zelda leads Masaru away from the hall. The mysterious golden rimmed box remains behind, but the memory of it lingers, still.
"Masaru, I'm starting to think that you're no better than Link when it comes to thinking," Princess Zelda says, crossing her arms angrily.
"Aw, but, Princess..." Masaru whines.
"Next thing I know, you'll be talking about eating Octoroks!" Princess Zelda exclaims, throwing her hands into the air in frustration.
"What do Octoroks taste like?" Masaru asks.
"UUUUGHHHH!" Princess Zelda cries out.
"Do you miss Link?" Masaru asks, smiling a little.
"Sometimes, but then I remember how careless he was and I'm like, wow! I'm glad Link's elsewhere!" Princess Zelda replies.
Masaru's smile changes as a hint of sadness is now evident in his eyes. He tries to focus on the conversation at hand, but his mind keeps slipping back to that box. The box with the golden rims. It's almost as though a voice is calling out to him, begging him to open the box.
It was a bit later and the guards approached Masaru as he stood silently with his princess. It was late and time for him to go home. Returning home, Masaru flops down in bed, staring at his ceiling. He could not sleep; he could only think about the mysterious box.
'Masaru... Masaru... Masaru...' a voice calls over and over again.
Masaru hears the voice, tempting and sweet. He sits up suddenly. A little known fact is that some Hylians can send and receive psychic messages and, Masaru just so happens to be one of such. The startled boy sits there, one pointed ear towards the ceiling.
'Masaru...the box...the box calls. Do you hear?' the voice asks.
'I hear. I'm not allowed to open the box, though. Princess Zelda told me not to,' Masaru says.
'Princess Zelda...she's hiding something. She doesn't want you to know. It's something valuable!' the voice says.
'Oh, why didn't she just tell me?' Masaru asks.
'If she told you what it was, you'd open the box and take it,' the voice says.
'I'm not a thief,' Masaru says.
'Yes, but what's inside the box is great...a little peek won't hurt anybody,' the voice says.
'No harm? None at all?' Masaru asks, feeling mighty tempted to go see what is inside the box.
'No harm at all. Masaru...now is our time. Come to the castle and open the box...take a peek...she'll never know,' the voice says.
'I must! I must know what is in that box!' Masaru says, very determinedly.
'Yes. What's stopping you?' the voice asks.
'Nothing. See you there, I guess?' Masaru asks.
'Indeed...see you there,' the voice says.
Masaru leaps out of bed and runs to Hyrule Castle, still dressed in his pajamas. He runs faster and faster, his heart pounding within him like the frantic beating of a drum. He reaches the castle and sneaks in past the sleeping guards. He goes down the hall and stands before the mystery box. He unlatches the lock of the box and throws the lid open.
"YESSSSSSSSS! I'M FREE!" the same voice from earlier cries out.
Now that the box has been opened, the evil inside can come out. A large dark mass erupts from the box like a plume of smoke. The smoke gathers and forms into a giant one-eyed bat with tentacles. It flies there for a moment, flapping its wings which haven't been exercised in awhile.
"Hoh hoh hoh! You fell for my trap! Now, I can wreak havoc on the world once again!" the monstrous blob says.
"No! No! This can't be happening!" Masaru cries out.
Masaru doesn't get a moment to think or do anything. The evil creature flies over his head deeper into the castle. Masaru turns around trying to see where it is going. Princess Zelda is heard screaming from her bedroom upstairs.
"Princess Zelda! I'm coming!" Masaru cries out.
Masaru dashes as fast as his feet can carry him. He runs up the stairs towards the bedroom. The creature is gone, and all that is left is the destruction it left. Princess Zelda remains behind, but she is nothing more than a petrified statue. Looking up, Masaru finds a large hole has been ripped through the ceiling.
"NOOOOOOOOOO! WHAT HAVE I DONE?!" Masaru wails.
Masaru drops to his knees in agony for a moment, despairing at the consequences of his actions. Then, not wanting to get in trouble, Masaru flees from Hyrule Castle. As he is exiting the castle grounds, however, he is stopped by a massive brown owl. The owl stares at Masaru, seemingly judging his soul
"Hoo hoo! Young man! Are you trying to flee from your problems? Hoo hoo!" the owl says as his head rocks back and forwards.
"AHHHHHHH!!! GIANT OWL!" Masaru screams.
"Hoo hoo! I may be giant, but I promise I have no intention of harming you! Hoo hoo!" the owl says.
"Then why have you stopped me?!" Masaru asks, still startled.
"Hoo hoo! It is late at night and I know exactly what you did! Hoo hoo!" the owl says.
"That's creepy, you know that, right?" Masaru asks, crossing his arms.
"Hoo hoo! You opened the box! That was very wrong of you to do! Hoo hoo!" the owl states.
"Well, I know. I just couldn't resist. There isn't anything I can do. The princess has been turned into stone and the world is doomed!" Masaru wails.
"Hoo hoo! Muh boy! You released the evil wind sorcerer, Vaati, from his prison. You must take responsibility and defeat him! Hoo hoo!" the owl says.
"But...how?" Masaru asks.
"Hoo hoo! I will guide you on your quest, muh boy! The first step in your journey is to obtain a sword. Ask the man in The Shop if he has a sword you can use. Remember to be honest if he asks you about why you need the sword! Hoo hoo!" the owl says.
The giant owl extends his wings, flapping vigorously. He flies up into the air in an impressive gust of wind so strong Masaru nearly falls over. The bird is gone and Masaru is all alone again. He needs time to think over this new information and process all that has happened.
