The atmosphere within Fox's cluttered laboratory in the Emerald Kingdom palace was usually one of chaotic, unbridled creativity. This morning, however, a profound sense of solemn, highly focused urgency had completely replaced the usual cheerful clatter of gears and springs. The young inventor stood at the centre of the room, his goggles pushed securely up into his messy blond hair, his hands resting proudly upon his latest, arguably most important creation.
It was a large, rectangular trunk carved entirely from solid Sapphire Kingdom ironwood. The wood was legendary across the continent for being incredibly dense, naturally resistant to fire, and nearly impossible to shatter with conventional weapons. The exterior of the trunk was polished to a dark, lustrous sheen, completely devoid of any decorative carvings or royal crests that might easily draw unwanted attention.
