It has been a couple of years since Link saved Hyrule from Ganon. On Link's 16th birthday, the mark of the Triforce of Hyrule, appears on Link's hand. He shows this to Princess Zelda's nurse, Impa. Impa is taken aback by this mark, but nonetheless she takes Link to the North Castle in Hyrule, and shows Link a door labeled "The door that does not open". Impa asked Link to put his hand on the door, and sure enough, it opened. Inside was a sleeping Princess Zelda. (please note that this sleeping Princess Zelda is different than the Princess Zelda from the first Zelda game that Impa is nurse to.) Impa then told the story of this Princess Zelda: That long ago, there was a great King of Hyrule who ruled justly with 3 pieces of the Triforce; Power, Wisdom, and Courage. But still, this great king had to die eventually. When he did, the prince of Hyrule was to inherit everything, but only if he could find the Triforce of Courage, a test of worthiness. But he could not find it. Then a magician approached the prince and told him that his younger sister, the Princess Zelda knew something about the Triforce's location. The prince asked his sister about it, but she would not tell him the location. The magician then began to cast a spell on the princess, to put her to sleep forever. The prince then tried to stop the magician, but he could not, and Zelda fell into a deep sleep. The magician then died, and the prince put his sister in the North Castle. The prince then ordered that all women born into the house of Hyrule were to be named Zelda, so that this tragedy could not be forgotten. Impa then gave a scroll to Link detailing that he was a hero of quality, because the Triforce mark appeared on his hand. This scroll also said that Link must venture to the six temples and place the six crystals, which Impa gave to Link, so that the barrier on the Great Temple in the Valley of Death would fall, and that Link could find the Triforce of Courage there. Only then, with this piece united with the Triforces of Power and Wisdom, would the sleeping Princess Zelda awake. Link needed to get moving. But he had to be wary, as rumors told that the minions of Ganon were moving once again, this time saying that Ganon could be revived if Link were to be sacrificed in his honor, and then his blood sprinkled on Ganon's ashes. Link would need good luck in this perilous quest.