The Hero of Time is perhaps the most well-known and revered hero in Hylian history, and the prominent main character of Ocarina of Time. (OoT)
The Hero of Time is actually named Link, at first thought to be a little Kokiri from the forest, but later proved to be the son of a proud Hylian warrior. After the Great Deku Tree passed on, Link was given a task to perform: find the Princess of Hyrule, Princess Zelda, and follow her instructions to the letter. The princess instructed him to gather three spiritual stones from the three dominant races of Hyrule, (Kokiri, Gorons, and Zoras,) and use them with the Ocarina of Time to protect the Triforce, or, to be strictly accurate, obtain the Triforce before the despised villain of the story, Ganondorf, who was also seeking it.
But this plan backfired when Zelda was chased from her castle by Ganondorf to go into hiding. She entrusted Link with the Ocarina, and he opened a door in the Temple of Time himself to obtain the Triforce. However, behind the door was not the Triforce itself, but a final safeguard for protecting it. This safeguard was the Master Sword, a sword with evil-dispelling power infused by the Sages, and possibly the gods. Only a person deserving of the title of "Hero of Time" could pull it from the pedestal. The meaning to this title is somewhat unclear, but it seems likely that the hero was either one specific person, (Link himself,) or a very rare breed of courageous and noble intent.
At the moment Link lifted the sword from the pedestal, his adventure turned on its head.
For Ganondorf, the evil Prince of Darkness, (one of his many names and titles,) had chased him to the Temple of Time. It is unknown whether he was behind him the whole time, or came much later when the door was opened, but because the Master Sword held Link in place, he could not reach the Triforce, and so Ganondorf obtained it.
Link was locked in sleep for seven years until Rauru awakened him, telling him that because Ganondorf had obtained the Triforce and become tyrant of Hyrule, the prophecy of old had come true, and Link, with the Master Sword, must be the prophesied Hero of Time.
The Master Sword, (as you may read in its article,) possesses evil-dispelling qualities, infused in it by either the Sages or the Gods, and was the only weapon that could defeat Ganondorf. After Link uncovered the mysteries surrounding his past, he awakened all the Sages, and found the Princess Zelda.
Or rather, she found him. She had been watching him the whole time in the guise of a male Sheikah warrior, and now revealed herself to be Zelda, as well as revealing a nasty little surprise. Ganondorf didn't have the Triforce. At least...not all of it.
TO BE FINISHED LATER...
