Link's map showed him that Turtle Rock was located in the northeast section of the Dark World, where Death Mountain would be located in Hyrule. Link couldn't figure out a way to get there directly, but while traveling around he heard from an octopus-type creature in a cave that there was incredible beauty inside the Pyramid of Power, but someone had sealed the door. It would take something more than a standard bomb to open it. Link was curious about what was inside the pyramid, so he traveled to the bomb shop, located in the same place as his own house in Hyrule, to see what they had in the way of bombs. They were now selling a huge bomb, and Link bought it. After carrying it to the pyramid, he blew it up in front of a certain portion of the pyramid, and with a huge flash the door was opened.

Link went inside and found a fairy fountain. A whispered voice told him to throw something in, and Link took a chance and threw in his bow and arrows. A big fairy appeared, but instead of being an object of loveliness she was fat and ugly. She asked Link if the arrows were his, and then gave him some better ones, telling him,

These are the Silver Arrows. To give Ganon his last moment, you definitely need them! I know I don't quite have the figure of a fairy. Ganon's cruel power is to blame! You must defeat Ganon!

Now equipped with what he needed to defeat Ganon, Link was a little more confident. He threw in his sword, and the fairy gave him a stronger one: its blade shown gold, and Link could feel its power throbbing in his hand. Link used the Magic Mirror to warp to the Light World, and then went to Death Mountain and headed east. He wandered through twisted, maze-like caves before he found the eastern section of Death Mountain. Link noticed three stakes on top of a raised mound, and tried pounding them with the Magic Hammer. Nothing happened until he pounded them in a certain order, and then a portal to the Dark World appeared.

Stepping through the portal, Link found himself on top of Turtle Rock, which was indeed shaped like a turtle. An emblem on the turtle's back resembled the insignia on Link's Quake Medallion, and Link stepped on the circle and cast the quake spell. The ground rumbled and shook, and the turtle's face changed into the entrance to Turtle Rock. Inside this dark, treacherous dungeon, Link found that he needed to use the red Cane of Somaria to form moving block platforms across vast bottomless pits. The platforms could move only along magical tracks, but each time a block was formed some of Link's magic power drained away.

While exploring Turtle Rock, Link discovered a system of pipes above pits of lava. These pipes were big enough to crawl through, and Link went through them to find other sections of the dungeon. Finding his way to an exit, Link went outside and found himself on a narrow ledge. Another door leading back into Turtle Rock led to a large treasure chest, which contained the Mirror Shield. This shiny shield could deflect the beams of energy shot by eyeball guards on the walls.

Digging deeper into the dungeon, Link came upon a dark, bewildering platform maze, and had to find a switch while avoiding lines of fire. Later he had to shoot well-aimed fireballs from his Fire Rod to light up four braziers and open a door. After crossing a large pit Link finally met up with the Trinexx, the three-headed dragon guarding Princess Zelda.

Trinexx's middle head was grayish-black, and shot out every once in a while to attack Link. One of the heads was red and spit fire, while the other one was blue and spread slippery ice all over the floor from its icy breath. Link used the Fire Rod to stun Trinexx's blue head, and then defeated it with the Golden Sword. Luckily, during his travels Link had found an Ice Rod hidden in a cave near Lake Hylia in the Light World, and this magical weapon stunned Trinexx's red head long enough for Link to destroy it. With two of his heads defeated, Trinexx changed into a worm-like creature and attacked Link, but Link hit the worm's flashing center three times to defeat it. At last Princess Zelda had been saved, and she told Link:

I appreciate your coming so far to rescue me. As I thought, you are the legendary Hero. I have felt this from the first time we met. Ganon is waiting inside of his tower to pass through the gate linking the worlds. Once Ganon enters the Light World, it is unlikely that anyone can stop him. But if he stays in the closed space of this world, you can find him wherever he runs. Now, bring the crystals to the Tower of Ganon! We will use our combined powers to break the barrier. Let's return peace to the country without fail.