Link is a courageous young adventurer who, as in every Zelda title, is the main protagonist of the game. Close friends with Princess Zelda, he is brought by her to the hidden Shrine of the Four Sword, but he is aghast to see the evil Vaati released and Zelda captured. After he recovers from Vaati’s attack, he is led by a group of Fairies to take hold of the sacred sword, which then splits him into four so that the four adventurers might as one team take on the vile wind sorceror and his many minions. Over the course of the adventure, Link travels through a deep wood, a frozen cave, and even into the heart of Death Mountain itself before he proves himself worthy to ascend the sky and challenge Vaati in the might of his own palace.

Young yet sensitive to the changing currents of the world about her, Zelda is a wise ruler who senses trouble eminating from the ancient Shrine of the Four Sword. Bringing along her trusty friend Link just in case, her worst fears are realized when the two arrive to find Vaati freed from his prison of old and on a rampage. Zelda is kidnapped and carried off to the wind mage’s stronghold in the sky, but not before telling Link the legend of the Four Sword and thereby giving him the knowledge he needs to banish the evil Vaati and restore peace to the kingdom once again.

No one knows for sure just how Vaati broke free of his sealed prison to now reign chaos on the land. His origins are mysterious, but in an ancient time now long past, Vaati’s quest for world dominion was vanquished, and a young hero sealed him with the power of the blade that came to be known as the Four Sword. Now freed from his prison, any hint of rationality long since purged from him, Vaati now rages about the land madly. Upon finding the young princess, Zelda, he grabs her and vows to make her his bride as he reestablishes his palace high in the heavens. Despite his long absence, he still commands a wide army of beasts and monsters to thwart those who would oppose him. An able warrior in his own right, Vaati utilizes the power of the wind as well as the abilities of his own followers to combat would-be challengers. Still, he remains vulnerable to the might of the Four Sword…

A variety of mysterious small Fairies find Link in the aftermath of Vaati’s return and aid him on his quest to seal away the evil. They are servants of the three Great Fairies and give Link invaluable instruction on his destiny with regard to the legendary blade, the princess, and the wind mage. If Link so chooses, he can even visit their dwelling place, the Chamber of Insights, and these Fairies will train the four heroes on how to face the challenges ahead.

These are the great protectors of Hyrule and inhabit remote places of the land in order to keep the monsters at bay and protect the inhabited areas. It is into their dwelling places that the foursome Link must journey to purge the land of Vaati’s beasts and prove their worth to the Great Fairies. These three guardians each hold a key to the heavens, and any who would wish to ascend the heavens and to take on the responsibility of driving out evil must be found worthy of so great a task. If any such heroes present treasures enough befitting such a noble destiny, then the key of the guardian will be passed on. Once Link has obtained a special key from each of the three Great Fairies, he is at last ready for the final battle with Vaati high above the clouds.