The Darkened Land

Link, is a ranch worker in Ordon Village in the Ordona Province of Hyrule. His mentor Rusl asks him to present a gift to the Royal Family of Hyrule in his stead. The following day, Link teaches the Village children Beth, Malo, and Talo how to use a Slingshot and a Sword. Talo spots a Monkey and proceeds to chase it into Faron Woods. Link and the rest of the children give chase. Link ventures deep into the Woods and finds Talo and the Monkey trapped in a cage surrounded by Bokoblins. He defeats the creatures and frees the pair before returning to the Village.

The next day as Link prepares to leave his childhood friend Ilia discovers that the leg of Link's horse, Epona, is injured. Ilia proceeds to take Epona to the Ordon Spring to heal her leg. Link follows her, and Colin tells her how Link saved Talo the day before. Ilia tells Link not to worry about his Horse and asks him to promise her to come home safely.

At that moment, Bulblins break through the gate of the Spring and knock Link, Ilia, and Colin unconscious. The beasts kidnap Ilia and Colin and leave Link unconscious in the Spring. When Link regains consciousness, he finds Colin, Ilia, and Epona gone. He runs off into the Forest to find them, but finds a large black wall blocking the path. As he approaches it, a large and menacing black hand reaches out and pulls him through the wall into the darkness within.

Link finds himself on the other side, being strangled by a Shadow Beast, the creature who pulled him through the wall. The Triforce symbol on Link's hand glows, forcing the Beast to let go of him. A sharp pain runs through Link and he doubles over, transforming into a Wolf before passing out.

As Wolf Link, he is captured and held prisoner within the dungeons of Hyrule Castle, which is covered by Twilight that has spread over Hyrule. In his prison cell he encounters Midna, an imp with mysterious powers, who aids in his escape. While escaping, Link and Midna find a cloaked young woman. She immediately explains to Link how Hyrule came to be shrouded in Twilight, and reveals her true identity as Princess Zelda.