The following list is full of stuff you could and should have gotten before now. Especially the Pieces of Heart. When you become an adult, you will not be able to return to your child form until after defeating your first castle, so be sure you've packed your bags and done everything to prepare yourself for the inability to return home for a long time. And, frankly, it's more fun to be an adult so you won't want to go back any more than you can help.
These are the Golden Skulltula you should have gotten before now (46 total):
1-6, 8-9, 17, 19-20, 23-33, 40-41, 44-51, 58-59, 63-64, 66-69, 73-75, 86-87
These are the Pieces of Heart you should have gotten before now (15 Pieces, 8.75 Heart Containers total):
1-8, 12-14, 17-18, 25, 29
These are the Ocarina Songs you should have learned before now (5 total):
Zelda's Lullaby, Epona's Song, Saria's Song, Sun's Song, Scarecrow's Song
These are the tools, weapons, and upgrades you should have gotten before now (33 total):
Fairy Ocarina, Green Tunic, Kokiri Boots, Goron Bracelet, First Bottle, Second Bottle, Stone of Agony, Zelda's Letter, Adult Wallet, Boomerang, Deku Sticks, Deku Nuts, Fairy Slingshot, Bombchu, Deku Shield, Hylian Shield, Kokiri Sword, Keaton Mask, Skull Mask, Spooky Mask, Bunny Hood, Mask of Truth, Goron Mask, Zora Mask, Gerudo Mask, Silver Scale, Magic Beans, Farore's Wind, Third Bottle, Giant Wallet, Din's Fire, Bombs, Boomerang
Coming of Age
Once you've gotten everything on my list (or at least the Ocarina Songs and Pieces of Heart) head over to Hyrule Castle Town Market. As you near the drawbridge, the sky will grow dark and you'll be pushed into an auto-clip. If you recall the dream Link had in the very beginning of the game . . . well, here it is for real. Zelda and Impa come riding out of the town. Zelda sees you and throws something at you; well she turns out to be a bad shot and misses, but it's the thought that counts. Link will turn to look back at the castle and -- guess who! -- Ganondorf is sitting on his horse looking tall and menacing. Or maybe just tall. Anyway, he looks at Link and demands to know where Zelda went. Being the stubborn and stupid kid he is, Link refuses to answer and actually draws his sword. Fortuntely for Link, Ganondorf just thinks it is funny and, after zapping him with some lightning stuff, rides off towards the south.
Now it's time to figure out what Zelda threw at you. Hop into the moat and you'll find the object to the right of the drawbridge. Dive down and you'll see that it is a blue ocarina, the Ocarina of Time.
You get pulled into another auto-clip. Link falls into some sort of dream or trance where he sees Zelda standing in the Temple of Time. She gives you some instructions and teaches you the Song of Time.
When the sequence is finised, hop out of the water and go into the Temple of Time (this is it -- be SURE you've gotten everything you need). When you near the alter with the three cut-out holes, read the inscription and play the Song of Time to make the three Spiritual Stones sit on the alter and the Door of Time grind open. Go through the Door and you'll find a second chamber. A sword (the Master Sword) is embedded in the ground. Step forward and pull it out.
Another auto-sequence . . . this is getting annoying. It turns out, though you had a good deed in mind, Ganondorf somehow sensed your importance and followed you into the Temple. Don't worry, there's nothing you could have done. Anyway, now the Door of Time is open and he has access to the power he needs to wreak havoc over Hyrule. Which wouldn't be a problem except . . . you get put into a coma for seven years and Zelda is nowhere to be found.
You wake up in front of this large, fat man whose name is Rauru. He is the Sage of Light. He explains that you were not physically ready for the Master Sword and being the Hero of Time, so the sword put you into a coma until you were able. Which turns out to be seven years. When the camera pans, you will find that you are taller, stronger, have a nicer sword, and have somehow magically grown earrings! Rauru will tell you about all the horrible things Ganondorf has done in your absense, but nothing can really compare to what you see when you are returned to the Temple of Time and step out into Hyrule Castle Town Market (insert scary music here).
