In the land of Hyrule, there echoes a legend.
A legend held dearly by the Royal Family that tells of a boy…A boy who, after battling evil and saving Hyrule, crept away from the land that had made him a legend…Done with the battles he once waged across time, he embarked on a journey. A secret and personal journey…
A journey in search of a beloved and invaluable friend…
A friend with whom he parted ways when he finally fulfilled his heroic destiny and took his place among legends…
Waylaid in the Woods
The story begins with Link riding his trusty steed, Epona, through a hazy forest. Along the way, Epona is startled by a pair of fairies that seem to be helping a mysterious, masked imp. Link is tossed from his mount and lands on the ground, unconscious.
Seizing the opportunity, the masked imp creeps over and searches Link. One of the fairies identifies the wicked imp as the “Skull Kid.”
After a quick search, the Skull Kid finds a worthy prize: the Ocarina of Time. He amuses himself with the instrument as the fairies engage in a heated argument.
Recovering from his fall, Link springs into action. He lunges for the Skull Kid, who deftly dodges the lad and mounts Epona. Link grabs onto the saddle just as the Skull Kid starts riding off.
After a wild ride through the woods, Link loses his grip and takes a nasty tumble. The Skull Kid dashes away on Epona, fleeing through a large, hollow tree. Not good!
Stop, Thief!
You gain control of Link after he picks himself up and dusts himself off. Use Circle Pad to move around, and press 
while moving to roll. Press 
to raise Link’s shield in a defensive stance that blocks frontal attacks and press 
to center the camera behind Link. Press 
to swing Link’s sword.
When you’re ready, pass through the hollow tree in pursuit of the Skull Kid. Cut down more tall grass in the next area if you like, but be quick about it: these unusual weeds scurry about and quickly vanish after you start slashing.
After clearing out the tall grass, begin climbing and jumping across the nearby tree stumps. Simply move Link toward the lowest stump, and he’ll automatically climb onto it. Link also automatically jumps from stump to stump, so there’s no need to press any buttons—just keep moving forward. After you leap to the high ledge, go through the next hollow tree.
A Long Drop
The Skull Kid has tricked Link: there’s nothing beyond the second hollow tree except a long fall into dark depths. Here’s hoping for a soft landing.
As luck would have it, Link lands safely on a large flower, none the worse for wear. The Skull Kid awaits him in the chamber below, but he seems to have gotten rid of Epona. Where could Link’s beloved steed be?
Unleashing the power of his mysterious mask, the Skull Kid weaves a terrible spell that transforms Link into an ugly little Deku Scrub. Before our hero can react, the trickster flees through a door, leaving Link to his fate.
Fairy Friend
Link’s certainly in a sorry state, but at least he’s got some company. One of the Skull Kid’s mischievous fairies has been separated from her brother, Tael, and is trapped in here with Link. Fuming at her dilemma, the unfriendly fairy insists that Link open the door for her.
Deku Scrub Skills
Before approaching the door, take a moment to familiarize yourself with Link’s new form. As a Deku Scrub, Link cannot wield his sword or shield, nor can he roll around. Instead, pressing 
makes Link perform a powerful spin attack, while pressing 
makes him turtle up in a defensive posture. Try spinning through the tall grass to quickly mow it all down, pocketing a few Rupees in the process.
When you’re ready to move on, approach the door and press 
to open it. Link automatically moves through and enters the next area.
Tatl’s Tale
The little fairy catches up with Link after he moves through the door. She apologizes for being rude earlier and asks that Link take her along. She says that she knows where the Skull Kid might be heading, and she introduces herself as Tatl.
Flower Power
Tatl calls out as you approach the nearby flower. Press 
to speak with Tatl, and she’ll tell you how Link can interact with Deku Flowers. Looks like the little fairy will be of some use after all.
Before messing with the Deku Flowers, drop and use Deku Link’s spin attack to chop down the tall grass in the room’s lower area. See if you can get them all before they scurry away.
Now, approach the nearby Deku Flower. Press and hold 
to dive into the Deku Flower, then use Circle Pad to aim at the nearby ledge. Release 
to pop out of the Deku Flower, then use Circle Pad to glide onto the ledge.
Repeat this with the other Deku Flowers until you return to the entry ledge.
Next, dive into the entry ledge’s Deku Flower (the highest flower), and aim at the far door. Launch from the flower, and glide over to the ledge near the door. Once you land, go through the door to reach the next room.
Sealed Room
The door seals behind Link as he enters the next room, trapping him inside. Beware: this room has no floor, so you must glide from platform to platform without falling.
Use each platform’s Deku Flower to glide to the next platform ahead. Press 
to drop from the sky once you’re gliding over solid ground. The tallest platform is difficult to reach, requiring a near-perfect jump and glide. Open the chest you discover on this towering platform to claim 10 Deku Nuts.
Deku Nut
You got a Deku Nut! Press 
while flying to drop a Deku Bomb. Upon impact, it makes a blinding flash, freezing enemies in their tracks.
Although it’s tough to see, there’s another platform on your left. Land on this platform, then use its Deku Flower to make the long glide over to the platform near the exit tunnel.
When you land on the platform near the exit tunnel, Tatl flies over to a small tree and calls out to you. Press and hold 
to target Tatl, then press 
to speak with her. Targeting objects with 
is known as 
-Targeting.
Glide over to the tree, and press 
to check it. The tree bears a sad resemblance to Link in his new Deku Scrub form. Could it bear some connection to his curse? Try as you might, you can’t do anything with the tree, so simply proceed through the nearby tunnel.
The Clock Tower
The tunnel leads into a small, stone room filled with water and machinery. If you like, try leaping into the deep water here. In his Deku Scrub form, Link is light enough to hop across deep water. He hops up to five times before plunging into the depths and restarting on the last section of dry land he stood on. When you’ve finished hopping about, sprint up the sloped ramp and head upstairs.
As Link approaches the upstairs door, an unusual man calls out to him. The stranger seems to know that Link has met with a terrible fate. Though he doesn’t reveal his name, the man says that he owns the Happy Mask Shop, explaining that he searches far and wide for intriguing masks.
The mask salesman further mentions that during his travels, an imp in the woods stole a very important mask from him. Could he be speaking about the Skull Kid? It sure sounds like that little creep…
The mask salesman continues, saying that he can help Link return to his normal self. But before the mask salesman can help Link, the lad must first regain the precious item that the Skull Kid stole from him: the Ocarina of Time. In exchange for his help, the mask salesman asks that Link reclaim the precious mask that the Skull Kid has stolen.
The mask salesman says that he’ll be leaving in only three days! He would be very grateful if Link could return his precious mask before that time is up. It’s a tall order, but what choice have you got?
Finally, the mask salesman points to a large nearby stone. He calls it a Sheikah Stone and says that Link should look out for similar stones as he explores. If the lad ever loses his way, Sheikah Stones can help him find his proper path. After speaking with the mask salesman, go through the nearby door to continue your pursuit of the mischievous Skull Kid.
