Dive into the epic tale of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Discover Link's journey across the Great Sea, the legend of the Hero of Time, and the sinking of Hyrule.
Set hundreds of years after the events of _Ocarina of Time_, _The Wind Waker_ finds the hero Link in a sea scattered with 49 islands, necessitating frequent sailing and naval combat. Link lives with his grandmother and younger sister Aryll on Outset Island. The people of the Great Sea pass down a legend of a prosperous kingdom with a hidden golden power, which an evil man named Ganon stole to spread darkness. A young boy dressed in green, the Hero of Time, sealed the evil with the Blade of Evil's Bane and passed into legend. Boys on Outset Island are customarily dressed in green to pay reverence to the Hero of Time.
Ganondorf, thought to be sealed in the Sacred Realm of Hyrule, resurfaced to resume his dark designs. As darkness spread, the people hoped for the Hero of Time's return, but he did not appear. Ganon made another move for the Triforce, but King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule was not strong enough to stop him. The goddesses answered the king and people's prayers by instructing them to flee for the mountaintops before flooding the land. Ganondorf and his minions were sealed with Hyrule in an enchanted air chamber at the bottom of the sea, with the Master Sword as the key suspending time. Over centuries, the memory of Hyrule vanished, but its legend survived.
On Outset Island, Link comes of age to wear the hero's green tunic. His sister Aryll's gift is her Telescope, with which Link sees the Helmaroc King fly over the island, carrying a young girl. A pirate ship pursues the bird, causing it to drop the girl, Tetra, into the forest. Link rescues Tetra, but the Helmaroc King then kidnaps Aryll, mistaking her for Tetra, and takes her to the Forsaken Fortress. A Rito postman named Quill informs Link and Tetra that the bird kidnaps girls with long ears to the Forsaken Fortress. Tetra reluctantly agrees to help Link infiltrate the Fortress. Link reaches Aryll, but the Helmaroc King throws him into the sea.
Link is recovered by the King of Red Lions, a talking boat. He reveals Ganondorf's return and that the seal of the gods failed. The King explains that the Master Sword, capable of defeating Ganondorf, can only be wielded after trials. To access its power, Link must gather the three Goddess Pearls: Din's Pearl from Dragon Roost Island, Farore's Pearl from Forest Haven, and Nayru's Pearl from Greatfish Isle. The King gives Link the Wind Waker, a conductor's baton to control the wind. On Dragon Roost Island, Link helps the Rito by calming the enraged Sky Spirit Valoo, defeating Gohma, and earning Prince Komali's trust to receive Din's Pearl. At Forest Haven, Link saves Makar from the Forbidden Woods, defeating Kalle Demos, and receives Farore's Pearl from the Great Deku Tree. At Greatfish Isle, Link finds it ravaged and learns from Quill that Jabun, the Water Spirit, fled to a cave behind Outset Island. Link finds the Pirates on Windfall Island, who are stealing Bombs from Bomb-Master Cannon.
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