Return to the Sacred Grove: Overview
With your fifth dungeon completed, and providing you’re attempting to obtain everything at the earliest possible juncture, you can cross some major accomplishments off your “to do” list during this part of your Overworld adventuring. For a start, you can clear your final dig cavern and collect your last Golden Bug to claim the grand prize from Princess Agitha. But your main objective is to rendezvous with Rusl, who is convinced an old temple lies somewhere within the Sacred Grove. Journey there, find a novel way to enter the grove, and head back in time…with Ooccoo!
Task 1: Thoroughly Hunt for Items Around Snowpeak Mountain
Minigame: Sledding to Victory
After you leave Snowpeak Ruins, don’t immediately warp away to the Hyrule Fields. Instead, climb to the top of the mountain and talk to Yeto, who asks if you want to race him. Agree to this challenge.
Begin your race, and follow the route as you did when you slid down here previously. Learn the shortcuts, and how best to take them, or even take the regular way around. You should easily beat him if you don’t fall! When you win, speak to Yeta, and she’ll tell you the best time.
Return to the top of the mountain, and speak to Yeta this time. She wants to race you too, and she’s incredibly skilled! Learn the following route to beat her:
Perform a spin attack as you both meet after the first jump.
Press w and make smooth, subtle turns through the first snowbank, heading to the broken bridge.
Launch off the middle of the ramp, and hit all three tree ledges.
Crouch and leap onto this right snowbank here, preparing for the shortcut.
Jump off the edge, onto the shortcut, and stay on course!
Stay on the right, high snowbank as you spot the mansion in the distance.
Stay crouched and press w , but don’t strike the sides on the last bend. Perform a spin as you finish, so you don’t get beaten at the post!
Providing you beat Yeta, she tells you how impressive you are and gives you a gift: a Piece of Heart! Add it to your collection, and wave good-bye to the Yetis!
After Snowpeak Ruins: The Final Reconnoiter
Poe Soul #49
Backtrack into the cavern with the ladder that you climbed to reach the top of the mountain. Open the round door with the hand prints on it, head down to this point, where a couple of ice blocks remain, and smash them. One contains a Poe, and the other an unlit torch. Change to wolf form and bring that Poe down!
Now inspect the unlit torches. There are two, and as you’d expect, lighting both of them produces a reward in the shape of a treasure chest. Look inside for an orange Rupee.
The Crate Escape—Ice Block Puzzle Cavern
Next warp back to Hyrule, and head to the north field, and the north section of the field. Enter the cave whose Bomb Rock you destroyed a while ago. Now that you have the Ball and Chain, you can enter this area.
Ice Block Puzzle
You must smash through a giant block of ice to reach the Ice Block Puzzle Cavern’s first room, and the only way to do that is with a little help from the Ball and Chain. Smash through the ice, then enter the first room and prepare to use your noodle.
Room 1: This Ain’t So Bad!
Here are the steps to solving the first room:
1. Push the southwest block to the north.
2. Push the same block to the east.
3. Slide the southeast block to the west.
4. Shove the northeast block to the south.
5. Shove the same block to the west.
6. Push the same block to the north.
7. Slide the northernmost block to the east.
8. Slide the same block to the south.
9. Push the same block to the west.
10. Finally, shove the same block to the north.
The block lands on the room’s pressure switch, opening the north gate.
Room 2: Okay, This Is Tough
The second room’s far more challenging. Here’s one way to solve it:
1. Push the southwest block to the north.
2. Slide the northeast block to the south.
3. Push the southeasternmost block to the west.
4. Shove the east block to the north.
5. Slide the same block to the west.
6. Push the middle west block to the east.
7. Push the same block to the south.
8. Shove the same block to the west.
9. Slide the same block to the north. The room’s northernmost pressure switch is now depressed.
10. Push the northernmost block to the east.
11. Slide the southwest block to the east.
12. Shove the northeast block to the south.
13. Slide the southernmost block to the west.
14. Push the northernmost block to the south. This releases the northernmost pressure switch.
15. Slide the southwest block to the north.
16. Shove the southernmost block to the west.
17. Shove the same block to the north.
18. Push the same block to the east. The room’s southernmost pressure switch is now depressed.
19. Slide the easternmost block to the north.
20. Oops! Slide the same block to the south.
21. Shove the same block to the west.
22. Push the northwest block to the south.
23. Push the same block to the east.
24. Slide the southwest block to the east.
25. Slide the same block to the north.
26. Shove the same block to the west.
27. Finally, push the southwesternmost block to the north.
Room 3: Gaaah! My Brain!
The third room seems simple at first, with only one pressure switch to activate. Yet it’s surprisingly tricky! Here’s one solution:
1. Push the northeast block to the south.
2. Shove the southwest block to the north.
3. Shove the same block to the east.
4. Push the same block to the south.
5. Slide the middle block to the west.
6. Shove the southeast block to the north.
7. Shove the same block to the west.
8. Push the east block to the north.
9. Push the southwest block to the north.
10. Slide the northeast block to the west.
11. Slide the same block to the south.
12. Shove the northwest block to the east.
13. Slide the southernmost block to the east.
14. Push the northeast block to the south.
15. Finally, slide the northeast block to the west.
16. The room’s central pressure switch is now depressed. The north gate opens up.
Task 3: Find the Golden Cucco
Return to the Sacred Grove: Rusl’s New Partner
Warp to the North Faron Woods, near Trill’s Shop, and run northward, to the area where you first took Midna and bounded across to the Sacred Grove. Rusl is waiting to tell you there’s an ancient temple deep in the woods that guards a sacred power. To reach the Sacred Grove, he offers you his flying companion: a golden Cucco!
Grab the Cucco, and launch yourself off the ledge you’re standing on. Fly across to the tree root in the sky, and the next, before swooping in on the entrance to the Sacred Grove. Run to the edge, and use your Gale Boomerang to flip the bridge so it faces north-south.
Float down to this bridge, then drop the Cucco, and spin the bridge onto the next ledge. Grab the Cucco, then position yourself southward, facing the swinging logs. Soar past them to the tiny platform, and again onto the ledge leading to the main Sacred Grove entrance.
Missin Links
1. Golden Cucco Chat
Remember that you can transform into your wolf form and chat with the Cucco. What does he say? We’re not telling!
Task 3: Follow and Fight the Strange Skull Kid
Skull Kid’s Lantern Game
Chamber 1: Enter the initial chamber of the Sacred Grove. You’ll find that the Skull Kid is back, and he’s brought his Puppets! Spin attack the four that arrive, and exit via the opening to the north that Skull Kid created.
Chamber 2–3: The Skull Kid leaves a trail of light in this gloomy grove, so follow him into the second chamber, and make a right. Check the tunnel in this direction as there’s light coming from Chamber 3. Follow it up there.
Chamber 3: Skull Kid is hiding in this chamber, behind the tree on the upper area. Bring your sword out, and give him a friendly thwack. He opens up a tunnel and moves into Chamber 4. Follow him there.
Chamber 4: Skull Kid takes a left and runs up the tunnel to Chamber 5. Meanwhile, explore this area, heading through the archway on the pond, and around and up the tree platforms to the stump overlooking the tunnel. There’s a Poe up here to add to your soul collection.
Chamber 5–6: Head to Chamber 5 now, with the posts coming out of the water, and ignore the Skull Kid for the moment. Head to the next chamber (Chamber 6), and light both the torches in here. A chest appears. Grab the bombs and continue your hunt back in Chamber 5.
Chamber 5: Move back to Chamber 5, where the Skull Kid is amusing himself. Aim a Bomb Arrow at him, and he flees the scene!
Chamber 5–2, then 7: The Skull Kid takes a romp all the way back through the chambers you’ve previously visited, to Chamber 2, and then opens a tunnel northward, to Chamber 7, with the tree trunk platform and bridge. Take the shortcut via Chamber 6 if you wish.
Chamber 8: Skull Kid heads under the tree bridge, to Chamber 8, and then passes through a tunnel to Chamber 9. Optionally light the torches if you wish (nothing happens), deal with a few more Puppets, and continue onward.
Chamber 9 to 6 to 7: The Skull Kid now flees toward Chamber 7, via Chamber 6. Follow him and then climb the steps and go around to the tree bridge. That’s where he’s hiding! Climb onto the middle of the bridge and look left. Deal with any Puppets, then fire a Bomb Arrow at Skull Kid.
Chamber 7 to 8 to 10: The Skull Kid now opens the tunnel on the bridge that leads to the balcony overlooking Chamber 8. Head here, drop down, and then run to the ruined arena for another fracas with this fellow!
Skull Kid Battle!
Poe Soul #50
Chamber 10: You can now face Skull Kid in a battle you may already be familiar with, except this time you’re fighting in human form. Begin by defeating the Puppets that Skull Kid sends to waylay you. Look for Skull Kid’s location (he’s standing on one of the many ledges). When all of the Puppets are defeated, fire a Bomb Arrow at him.
Continue this attack strategy two more times. Wait for Skull Kid to land and summon more Puppets (his last attack summons around nine!) and defeat them all with spin attacks and slashes. Then quickly find and manually aim at the Skull Kid. When he’s taken enough punishment, he titters and leaves, then reveals a secret exit to the west.
Task 4: Obtain the Giant Wallet
Return to the Sacred Grove: The Wayward Poe
Poe Soul #51
Now head into the glade where you found the Master Sword, and wait until the sun sets. This is where a Poe resides, and it’s easy to forget about him. Brandish your fangs and leap at the Imp Poe, grabbing his soul. Only nine more to go!
This hidden exit is a ramped path leading to an upper balcony overlooking the Sacred Grove square where you acquired the Master Sword. The temple entrance must be around here somewhere. Head across the grass, optionally smashing skulls (for Hearts). You can even creep up on the birds as a wolf and try to speak with them. Then head to the large block with the Hyrule crest on it, and push it off the ledge.
Before you enter the temple, there are a couple of outstanding treasure-hunting matters to attend to! Run off the ledge, past the ancient open chest, and down to the first arena where you fought Skull Kid, long ago. Move to this vine wall and Clawshoot to the top.
At the top is a ledge, but of more interest is a Spinner track running the circumference of this glade. Step on your Spinner and ride it to a ledge. Get off and inspect the chest. There’s a large-value Rupee in here for your trouble.
Arriving at the Temple of Time
Now stride to the place where you drew the Master Sword, and insert it into the grooved holder. The statue that was standing at the entrance to the temple vanishes. Draw back your blade, and head toward the entrance.
Warp Portal
As you head past the two statues, a portal rips into existence, and five Twilit Messengers descend. However, a flock of Keese also descends on you! Spin attack as they all close in for a vicious takedown! Defeat all the Keese first, as they play havoc when you’re trying to keep two final Twilit Messengers from falling. When only two Messengers are left, try a couple of short swipes and herd them together. Then finish them with a spin attack. Another portal is now available. You need not return through the Sacred Grove to reach here!
Now run around through the gap in the wall, past the broken chest, and up and over the block you pushed. You’re now at the entrance to the Temple of Time itself. Open the doors! Ahead is a bleary view into the past, when this Sacred Grove was a mighty temple! Step inside.
You emerge in an entrance chamber, exactly as this grove looked many centuries ago. Head down the steps and you can see the two statues you moved earlier, still guarding this place. Head down the steps and make a left turn.
Technically, you can warp out of the Temple of Time, and head back to Castle Town, either before or after you complete the next dungeon, and visit Princess Agitha. Present all the Golden Bugs to her. You may wish to purchase the Magic Armor if you haven’t already. When you give her the 24th Golden Bug, her bug ball is deemed a success and she thanks you with an even more copious Wallet!
Task 5: Enter the Temple of Time
All that remains is for you to enter the Temple of Time now. Head north, into the next chamber, which is a past view of the Master Sword glade. Plunge your sword into the slit, and a magical staircase appears. Ooccoo trots up the steps. Follow her, into the Temple of Time!