Long ago, a giant sea monster known as the Meester Worm rose out of the sea. It was said that the Worm’s body stretched halfway around the world. That its one eye was as red as fire. That its breath was poison to all living things.

Every day it moved closer to our home.

The king of the place asked the sorcerer for help. “You must give your only daughter, Princess Gemlovely, to the Worm,” said the sorcerer. “Only then will it leave."

The king went pale. Princess Gemlovely was kind, gentle, and loved by everyone. “Is that the only way to save my people?” the king asked.

“It is the only way,” the sorcerer said.

The king knew the sorcerer was serious. But he wasn’t ready to give up yet.

The king sent a message to all of the men : The man who can kill the Meester Worm will get half of the kingdom and Princess Gemlovely as his bride. The king was excited when thirty-six men came forward.

But as soon as they saw the monster, they all ran away. The king was sad.

He knew the princess had to be offered up to the Worm. There was great grief throughout the land.

On the day before the princess would be offered to the monster, a farm boy went to the seashore. His name was Zeal.

All his life the young boy wanted to be a great hero.

He was determined to defeat the Worm and save Princess Gemlovely.

At dawn, the monster awoke. It slowly opened its giant jaws in a yawn. A great flood of water rushed into its open mouth.

The boat and Zeal were swept in. He was carried down the Worm’s throat.

When the boat finally stopped, Zeal stepped out into a pool of shallow water deep inside the monster. He climbed through the monster’s body to its beating heart. He carried his knife and the bucket of hot coals.

Zeal used his knife to carve a hole and dumped the coals into it. Then, he blew and blew until the fire became a huge blaze.