Once you have become Adult Link, you must now travel around Hyrule and gather some important items before visiting the Forest Temple. This section will take you back to Kakariko Village, where you will obtain the Hookshot, pick up several Hearts and Gold Skulltula Tokens, and unlock Epona. You will also learn two very important songs called the Song of Storms and the Scarecrow Song. Follow this walkthrough to collect everything along the way and make your way to the Forest Temple.
All Collectables & Walkthrough in Getting the Hookshot and Epona
Head To Kakariko Village
Come out of the Temple of Time and walk through Castle Town. As the town has become a heap of ruins, rush through it and exit into the Hyrule Field. Move on to the Kakariko Village to gather some equipment and weapons.
Heart Piece #1
Go to the Kakariko Graveyard and search for the Magic Bean that was planted in this location as Child Link. The bean will now have sprouted into a flying leaf plant. Jump on top of the flying leaf and use it to travel to the ledge above. There is a Piece of Heart located in this area.
Hookshot
There is a grave that emits some fog near the flying leaf plant. Open the grave by moving its tombstone aside and enter it to locate Dampé’s grave. After talking to him, he will give you a race in the underground tunnel.
Racing with Dampé in the underground tunnel requires you to follow him very closely; otherwise, you won’t win the race. Moreover, do not touch the purple flame that he will emit while racing. Upon reaching the end of the tunnel, grab the chest to obtain the Hookshot. Using the Hookshot, you can hook specific targets, pull yourself over gaps, get items at a distance, and attack the enemies.
Heart Piece #2
Once you have obtained the Hookshot, go up the stairs next to the chest that contains it, and they will lead you straight into the windmill of Kakariko Village. You will notice that there is a piece of heart located on a wooden platform.
Learn Song of Storms
While you’re inside the windmill, talk to the Music Man. He will tell you about a strange song that a child played here many years ago. Take out your Ocarina, and he will play the tune for you. Repeat the notes on your Ocarina to learn the Song of Storms (L, R, X, L, R, X).
Heart Piece #3
Go back to Dampé’s tomb in Kakariko graveyard and talk to his ghost once more. This time he will race with you again in the same underground track, but now you will have to complete the race in one minute. Complete the race and collect your Piece of Heart from the chest.
Gold Skulltula #1
Return to Kakariko Village during nighttime. If it is still daytime, use the Sun’s Song to alter the time. Proceed to the location right next to Impa’s home and locate the vine-covered wall made of rocks. Make use of your Hookshot to ascend the blue roof that lies nearby. Then, turn your attention to the wall of rocks, and you will see a Gold Skulltula. Use the Hookshot to defeat it and collect the Token.
Heart Piece #4
Follow the trail to Death Mountain and head for the signpost near Dodongo’s Cavern. The Magic Bean that was planted here by Child Link has become a flying leaf plant. Just wait until it comes near and hop on board. Use the plant to climb to the nearby ledge and collect the Piece of Heart there.
Unlock Epona
Cross through Hyrule Field and go to Lon Lon Ranch, which is now known as Ingo Ranch. Talon is not the owner anymore, as Ingo owns the ranch. Speak to him outside the horse corral and pay 20 Rupees in order to be able to ride a horse. Inside the corral, you must play Epona’s Song using your Ocarina. You must have learned the song from Malon when you were Child Link.
Take Epona and approach Ingo, who is standing outside the entrance of the horse corral. Speak to him, and he will ask you to race around the track one time. You can use your carrots to run faster on the horse, but do not consume them all at once. You must allow them to refill themselves before you finish the race.
If you win the race, Ingo will challenge you to another one. When you beat him in the second race, he will hand over Epona to you. But he does not allow you to leave the ranch because he closes the gate and says that you cannot leave it anymore. Take Epona and jump over the fence.
Gold Skulltula #2
Mount Epona and make your way from Hyrule Field toward Ganondorf’s Castle. You cannot ride Epona into the destroyed Castle Town, so dismount and move forward on foot. When you arrive at the entrance of the castle, pay attention to the right side of the path. There will be a stone arch with a Gold Skulltula clinging to it. Defeat it with Hookshot to get a Token.
Learn The Scarecrow Song
Travel to Lake Hylia and find Bonooru the scarecrow. He remembers the song you played for him when you were Child Link. Take out your Ocarina and play the exact same tune you taught him earlier.
The notes may differ depending on the song you created. For reference, our song was A, X, A, X, A, X. After playing it, another scarecrow named Pierre will appear. You can now play this song at certain locations to summon Pierre. Use your Hookshot to reach him, as this ability will help you collect several items later.
Heart Piece #5
Take a walk around the building of the Lakeside Laboratory and try to find the Magic Bean that you planted here when you were Child Link. Now, it has turned into a flying leaf plant. Ride this plant until you get to the roof of the laboratory. Then move forward to the entrance of the tower and climb up using the ladder to get on the roof, and take the last ladder upwards. There is a Piece of Heart at the top of the tower.
Head To Kokiri Forest
Now that you have completed collecting the required objects around Lake Hylia, ride Epona through Hyrule Field to make your way to Kokiri Forest. Since the forest is now inhabited by monsters, be cautious when exploring. Your next stop should be the Lost Woods, where you will encounter a few more Gold Skulltulas before going to the Forest Temple.
Gold Skulltula #3
In order to find the token in Kokiri Forest, go outside of Kokiri Forest and locate the house that is far from the exit to the Great Deku Tree. Behind the house, play the Sun’s Song to turn nighttime and climb the tree near you. You will find a Gold Skulltula; use your Hookshot to destroy it.
Lost Woods
Enter the Lost Woods and follow the same route you used earlier to reach the Sacred Grove. Take the following path:
Right, Left, Right, Left, Straight, Left, Right.
But when you make the first three turns- right, left, and right- you will encounter Mido, who is standing there and blocking your way. Mido will not recognise you, but he will not allow you to proceed further. Mido is well aware that Link is the best friend of Saria. So he will ask you to identify yourself by playing Saria’s Song. Pull out your Ocarina and play the song. He will inform you that Saria has entered the Forest Temple, which is very deep within the forest.
Gold Skulltula #4
Go through the tunnel Mido was obstructing. Upon reaching the new area, go left and search for the Magic Bean which you planted earlier when you were Child Link. Now the bean has sprouted into a floating leaf. Ride on it and get to the ledge nearby where a Gold Skulltula is waiting for you. Kill the Gold Skulltula using your Hookshot and obtain its Token.
Gold Skulltula #5
Continue towards the Sacred Grove maze by following this route after the flying leaf area:
Left, Left, Right.
The maze will be full of Moblins, which attack you from the corridors. Either dodge their attacks or kill them while advancing in the maze. At the end of the maze, you will see a ladder. Climb up the ladder and search for Gold Skulltula on the wall nearby. Defeat it using your Hookshot to get the Token.
Enter The Forest Temple
Continue through the maze until you reach a large Moblin carrying a club. It guards the stairs leading to the upper area. Watch its movements and strafe from side to side when it prepares to attack. This will help you get past it safely.
Once you reach the stone platform at the top, Sheikh will appear and teach you the Minuet of Forest (L, X, Y, A, Y, A). This song lets you warp directly to the Sacred Grove whenever you need to return.
Now move towards the entrance of the Forest Temple. The stairs to reach the temple are destroyed, so you cannot reach the temple simply by walking. Look upwards at the entrance and shoot the target using your Hookshot. You will be able to climb up to enter the Forest Temple.
