

After Zelda explains her story to Link and gives him the Light Arrows, Ganondorf interrupts and imprisons Zelda in a crystal cage. After awakening the five other sages, Link meets Sheik again in the Temple of Time, where she is revealed to be Princess Zelda in disguise. Sheik gives him advice, in a mysterious fashion, throughout his quest. After receiving the first of the Six Medallions, Link meets Sheik, seemingly a descendant of the mysterious Sheikah race. Link is given the task to awaken the six sages in order to enter Ganon's Castle and defeat Ganondorf. Ganondorf, while not attaining ultimate power from the Triforce, has used the Triforce of Power to destroy the once bountiful land of Hyrule and crown himself King of Evil. Link awakens seven years later to find Hyrule in ruin. Ganondorf kept the Triforce of Power, dearest to his heart, and the Triforces of Wisdom and Courage are given to Zelda and Link, who were "chosen by fate". However, due to the lack of balance of wisdom, courage, and power in Ganondorf, it broke into its three component parts (power, wisdom, courage) in his hands. Seeing his chance, Ganondorf manages to get his hands on the sacred Triforce. However, Link was considered to be too young to wield the Master Sword, and is therefore sealed within the Chamber of Sages in the center of the Sacred Realm for seven years. While Ganondorf chases after them on his horse, Link opens the door to the Sacred Realm.


She manages to throw the Ocarina of Time into the castle town's moat before disappearing out of sight. Upon obtaining the final stone, Link travels to Hyrule Castle only to discover Zelda escaping from the castle with her nursemaid Impa. The two agree to obtain all three stones and open the Door of Time by playing the Ocarina of Time in the Temple of Time, and beat Ganondorf to the Triforce hidden within. Having already obtained the Kokiri's Emerald, the first of three Spiritual Stones needed to open the door to the Sacred Realm, Zelda convinces Link to search for the other two, as she believes the Gerudo thief Ganondorf, who is pledging alliance to her father, the King of Hyrule, to be a great evil who seeks to rule Hyrule. As a child, Link meets Zelda in Hyrule Castle after traveling there at the behest of the dying Great Deku Tree. As Leader of the Sages, Zelda is a key figure throughout the game.
