I was hoping to write one posting per dungeon, but either my time isn’t as free as I thought, or the game is longer than I expected. This time, I only got access to the Key Cavern, which is the third dungeon in Link’s Awakening, but I didn’t get a chance to get in yet.

Exploration

When I got out of the Bottle Grotto, I started to explore again, what with having the Power Glove and all. First, I got all the way north and actually found the Wind Fish egg. I hope no one spoils this for me, but I’m gonna say it – I think the Wind Fish might actually be a bird. Look how smart I am!

After that, I used the glove to get the heart piece from that cave in the woods I mentioned in my first article. This was apparently my fourth heart piece, so I got an extra heart container. The thing is, I can account for only three. I know I got one from the well in the village, as well as the one surrounded by chasms right next to the Mysterious Woods. This is obviously the fourth one, but I can’t remember where I got the third.

I got back to the village and gave Bow Bow back to Madam Meow Meow. She gave Link a kiss and that was about it. This means I won’t be entering the Bottle Grotto in any foreseeable future, since I need Bow Bow to clear the way.

During the exploration, I came back to the two bomb rooms (the one on the beach and the one in Tail Cave) and opened up a chest behind a green skull in the Mysterious Woods. This got me three extra secret seashells. At this point, I had four, but I had no idea what the seashells are for, except that it’s for something good. This will change soon.

Find Richard in the Southeast

I spoke to everyone in the village and they told me to go and find Richard, who’s living in a house southeast of the village. This seemed important, so it gets a note.

• See Richard, Southeast of the Village

On the way southeast, I stopped by at Sale’s again. He told me about a raft in Tal Tal Heights. I have no idea where Tal Tal Heights are, but that’s another note.

• There’s a raft in Tal Tal Heights

This is a bit blurry, but I think I went in the wrong direction to find Richard. The route past Sale’s was a dead end, so I went back to the village and headed east, for the Savannah first. I found another seashell while exploring and then found the Seashell Manor. In there, I was finally told what the seashells are for – if I get enough of them, I get a sword.

The Castle and Richard

I finally got to a castle, but the gates were closed. On the eastern side, I found a monkey who wanted some bananas. Luckily, I had some from the start of the game and gave them to the monkey. He called in his friends, and they created a bridge for me, so I now had access to more areas. They also left behind a stick, which I picked up.

I couldn’t do much about the castle, so I kept exploring and finally found Richard. It turns out I did this the other way around. I was supposed to find Richard first, because he hinted at the monkey and asked me to find him five golden leaves scattered around the castle, so he would give me the key to the Key Cave – the next dungeon.

I got back to the castle and started exploring it this time. I found four of the five leaves easily, with some being given to me by dead enemies, some hidden in the walls of the mini-dungeon and other more or less obvious places. The last one gave me trouble, not because I couldn’t find it, but because it took some skill to get it.

The Five Leaves and the Crow

The western courtyard of the castle had a crow on top of a tree. There was no way for me to hit it with a sword while it was stationary, so I had to use a bomb. As soon as I did, it would fly across the screen and disappear. I knew I had to kill it somehow, because it was the last enemy I wasn’t able to kill at the castle.

I first thought there was some trick, but as it turns out, I just had to be good enough. I threw a bomb at the tree, which caused the crow to trigger and then I hit it twice with my sword before it got away. That was enough to get the last leaf.

I gave the five leaves to Richard and got the key. I went and used the key at the dungeon entrance, but I actually had to go the long way around to reach the door from the key lock. I even managed to go in the wrong direction one more time and go all the way back, before I finally entered the dungeon. On the plus side, I found a bee hive as well as another seashell.

• There’s a bee hive close to the Key Cavern dungeon

Next up, I’ll get through the dungeon.

 

Related Posts:

• Link’s Awakening [13] – The Wind Fish Egg [COMPLETED]
• Link’s Awakening [12] – Turtle Rock
• Link’s Awakening [11] – Towards and Through the Eagle’s Tower
• Link’s Awakening [10] – The Face Shrine
• Link’s Awakening [9] – Exploring With the Hook Shot