Just as Hyrule began to lose hope, Link came of age. As if awakening from a dream, he opened his eyes to find himself in the Chamber of Sages, in the company of the Sage of Light, Rauru. Looking down at himself, Link and Navi were surprised to discover that Link was all grown up! Rauru told Link how Ganondorf had obtained the Triforce of Power from the Temple of Light, and used it to spread evil throughout Hyrule. He told Link about his destiny:

But there is still hope - the power of the Sages remains. When the power of all the Sages is awakened, the Sages' Seals will contain all the evil power in the void of the Realm. I, Rauru, am one of the Sages. And, your power to fight together with the Sages makes you the Hero of Time! The Hero of Time, chosen by the Master Sword! Keep my spirit with you... And, find the power of the other Sages and add their might to your own!

Giving Link the Light Medallion, which contained the power of his spirit, Rauru sent Link's spirit back to his body in the Temple of Time.

Link opened his eyes to see a blinding blue light. He was where he last remembered, standing in the Temple of Time in front of the Pedestal of Time. Link began to leave, but, sensing someone's presence, drew the Master Sword and spun around. But it was only a young man, who introduced himself as Sheik, Survivor of the Sheikahs. Sheik had been waiting for the Hero of Time to come, and he told Link the legend of the temples passed down by the Sheikah:

When evil rules all, an awakening voice from the Sacred Realm will call those destined to be Sages, who dwell in the five temples. One in a deep forest... One on a high mountain... One under a vast lake... One within the house of the dead... One inside a goddess of the sand... Together with the Hero of Time, the awakened ones will bind the evil and return the light of peace to the world...

Sheik told Link that a girl Link knew was waiting for the time of awakening in the Forest Temple, and that Link should first head to Kakariko Village to pick up an item he would need.

Link left the Temple of Time to see Hyrule Castle Town devastated, and Re-Dead zombies wandering the streets. In the distance he could see Ganondorf's black fortress hovering over a pit. Link left in a hurry, and walked to Kakariko Village.

Things had changed since he had been there last. Death Mountain looked funny, and Dampé the grave keeper had passed away. Link remembered how he had snooped into the grave keeper's diary seven years ago, and read about a treasure the old man had found. He read Dampé's diary again, and to his surprise he read that the man wished for someone to enter his grave and claim his treasure. Link did so, and by winning a race with Dampé's ghost he got the Hookshot.

Link raced back to his childhood dwelling, to find that monsters had taken over the Forest. Since the Deku Tree was no longer there to protect them, the defenseless Kokiri were forced to stay indoors to avoid the dangers. Link learned that evil winds had been blowing from the Forest Temple, and that Saria had gone there to check it out. Link played Saria's Song on the Ocarina of Time, and heard Saria speaking in his mind:

Great! You're safe! I knew I would hear from you again! I'm in the Forest Temple! The forest spirits were calling for help, so I went to check it out... But it's full of evil monsters! Help me, Link!

Link walked through the maze of the forest, and came upon Mido guarding a tree stump entrance. Mido didn't recognize him, and wasn't fooled by Link's "Kokirish" clothing. Link played Saria's Song, and Mido realized that Saria had taught that song only to her friends. He let Link by, and remarked that Link reminded him of... someone. Link reached the Sacred Forest Meadow, which was now crawling with spear-carrying Moblins. The entrance to the Forest Temple was blocked by a huge Moblin carrying a club. Link stepped around the slow-witted creature and, coming to the place where he had last seen Saria, found Sheik. Sheik taught him the Minuet of Forest, which would allow him to warp to the forest quickly, and disappeared in a flash of light.