As Link slowly returned to consciousness, he remembered what had happened. An evil storm had come to snatch Din away, and Link had fought back. Now Link felt himself lying in a cold place, slowly coming alive once more. Link suddenly lurched awake, springing up to once again face the evil... but it was gone. Next to him stood Impa, the only remaining member of the troupe. She had been tending to the young man's wounds, and was relieved to find that he was alright. Now that Onox had thrown the seasons into chaos, this part of Holodrum was in the midst of a snowy winter. Since Impa's disguise was now useless, she revealed her secrets to Link:

Actually, I am the nurse of Hyrule's Princess Zelda. And Din's no dancer either. She is actually the Oracle of Seasons who wields control over the forces of nature. Zelda has mystical powers that told of a curtain of shadow drawing around Din. I was instructed to take her to Hyrule in secret.

Zelda had given her this quest, but now she had been wounded and wouldn't be able to travel for some time. "I know not why you were lying in the woods," Impa said, "but... You and Din were fated to meet. If the Triforce symbol on your left hand is real, then you may be the hero who will save the world. Please! Use your power to aid Din!" Impa instructed Link to take her message to the Maku Tree, the guardian of all Holodrum, who lived in Horon Village nearby.

As Link entered Horon Village, he noticed a sharp increase in temperature. In fact, Link had come from a wintery region, but found that Horon Village was in autumn! The Horon villagers told Link that he could find the Maku Tree in the east of the village. But when Link finally found his way there, all he saw was an immense gate. A sign in front of the gate read, "Maku Tree Gate: Show courage to gain passage!" Link banged on the gate and called to the Maku Tree, but the only response was silence.

At a loss, Link talked to more villagers, trying to find out more clues. An old painter told him about the Hero's Cave near the Western Coast. It was said that the Hero's Sword was hidden there, but nobody had ever found it. Another old man told Link something about the Maku Tree: "It's said a hero with a sword will come to speak with him."

Link began to see that there was some connection between this Hero's Sword and the Maku Tree Gate. It was a bit frightening that nobody had ever found the sword, but well, what else could he do? So he headed to the Western Coast, looking for the Hero's Cave of legend.

Outside the village, Link again encountered the icy cold of winter. The Western Coast was swarming with Octoroks, octopus creatures that spit rocks. Unarmed, Link could only avoid them. He soon found what could only be the Hero's Cave. The inside of this dark and musty cave was filled with vermin, such as batlike Keeses and jellylike Gels. Link bravely dodged the monsters and solved puzzles, until he found a special shrine with a treasure chest. Inside he found the treasure he had been seeking: the Wooden Sword, a true sign of courage!

When Link returned to Horon Village again, he found the village to be even hotter. Now the village was in summer! The chaotic seasonal changes promised to wreck havoc on the crops of Holodrum.

As Link again approached the Maku Tree Gate, he pulled out his Wooden Sword. Standing in front of the gate, he swung the sword above his head, and commanded the gate to open. With a rumble, the heavy gates swung open, letting Link in to see the Maku Tree.

But when Link entered the presence of the Maku Tree, the guardian of all Holodrum did not look so impressive. Not only was he shriveled and somewhat small, but he was sound asleep! A bubble of spittle grew and shrank as the snoring tree inhaled and exhaled. Desperate to get the tree's attention, Link drew his sword and stabbed the bubble, dissipating it with a loud *POP*!

Startled, the sleepy Maku Tree woke with a start, and confusedly asked who Link was. The guardian of Holodrum didn't even know that Din had been kidnapped while he had slept, nor that the Temple of Seasons had disappeared! "This is awful!!!" the Maku Tree exclaimed, "Guarding the oracle is my duty... Alas, how I've withered!" The Maku Tree explained to Link what Onox's plan meant for Holodrum, and what Link could do to stop him:

With the seasons in chaos, the land is robbed of the very essence of nature, draining all of my might! Can you save Din in my stead? It is all this Maku Tree has ever asked! I sense evil on the Northern Peak, where the Temple of Seasons rested! Onox has cast a shadow on the Northern Peak. I think you will find him there. You'll need the eight Essences of Nature that lie sleeping in Holodrum. Gathering all eight is the only option. The essences possess the sacred power of nature, with which you can break the shadow barrier and save Din.

Link agreed to do what the Maku Tree asked, and the Maku Tree granted him a key. "Go to the Giant root near the lake up north!" the Maku Tree instructed, "The first essence should be there, but I'd expect some resistance. Be careful! I'll just--ahhm, rest until--ohh, no energy...ZZZ."

As the Maku Tree fell asleep once more, Link took the Gnarled Key, and headed out to gather the eight Essences of Nature.