Part 7: Dark Hyrule Castle

Hmm-hmm...  It seems that forging the sacred blade somehow opened the doorway! It must lead to the room that holds the secret of the light force! Link, we must go inside!

So, when that beam hits those who have turned to stone, it will turn them back. You've done it, Link! Now, you can rescue Princess Zelda.

Hmmm... How interesting... Look at the images on the stained glass... I bet those pictures show us where the light force is hidden...

Ah ha ha haaaa... Ezlo, you really are too kind. First, you give me my magic cap, and then you guide me here! You've been far too generous, but now, I no longer have any use for you.

He ha ha ha ha... At last, I finally know the location of the light force!

Link! Wake up! Can't you wake up, Link!?

Vaati disguised himself as the king to search for the light force. When he learned of this place, he waited for us to reforge the blade. If that stained glass is accurate, Princess Zelda holds the light force! Vaati will do whatever it takes to steal that power from her! If he succeeds, we may never be able to return the princess to normal! We've wasted too much time, Link! We must stop Vaati!

What? ...What is this? What's happened here!? They've been turned to stone! All of them! The minister...and the guards! Everyone in the castle, all just like Princess Zelda... This can only be the work of that evil Vaati! What cruelty. Link! We must use the power of the sacred Four Sword to undo this evil!

Whoa...!  Is this really Hyrule Castle? I can't believe it! What's happened here? Vaati's magic has grown more powerful than I'd imagined... But the king and Zelda are in danger, Link! Let's go!

Oh! Oh, thank you! You're the one who returned me to normal, aren't you? I don't know how you did it, but I can't thank you enough... Listen... Have you seen how strange the king has been lately? That's because it's not the king at all! It's Vaati! He's taken over the castle! One by one, he turned us all to stone. Everyone, cursed by his evil magic... Then, the monsters arrived. Even paralyzed, I saw it all... I only pray it's not too late to undo his evil...

Link! We need your help!  Vaati took our petrified princess to the roof of the castle... He must be planning something fiendish. You must stop him!

The real king of Hyrule must be locked up somewhere in the castle... Please find him. As soon as we've recovered, we'll start looking, too.

Oh! Thank you for restoring me. I feel so much better now! Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Now, go help the others!

Leave this to us! You go save Princess Zelda!

Don't worry--we'll protect the king. You have to go save Princess Zelda!

Gah! I hate to admit it, but we're just no match for those beasts!

Oh! Link!  Are you the one who broke the curse and returned me to normal? You've grown quite brave since I last saw you, I must say. But, oh, how this castle has suffered while I was under Vaati's curse... Is this all the work of one man?  As king of Hyrule, I must do something about this villain... But... Ah, I'm old, and I would only hold you back. Link, you have the sacred blade now. We must rely on you. Please! You must find a way to rescue my Zelda. Take this key. You can use it to get out of the castle from the basement.

If I were to join you, I fear I would only be a hindrance. Please, Link, you must find a way to save my daughter.

Ha ha ha! You ARE persistent, aren't you?

Heh heh heh heh heh heh...  So, you've come to stop my little ceremony. Well, you're too late. A mere three more chimes of the bell will bring the ceremony to its end! And with the third toll of the bell, I will become like a god! And your precious Princess Zelda will be nothing more than cold, dead stone.

There's no time! Quickly, Link, to the roof!

Did you hear that, Link? Hurry! There are only two chimes left!

Another bell has tolled...  Just one more chime, and all our work will have been for naught!

Link! No, it can't be! The bell has rung for a third time!

Hmph! Just a few more moments, and the ceremony would have been complete. You really are obsessed with stopping me, aren't you? Ah, very well. I have not yet drained all of the light force housed in Princess Zelda. But what I have should suffice... I shall be transformed! Unstoppable! But let me first attend to the pesky worms who would trifle with me...

Hmph!

I will have no more of you interfering with my plans! Let me show you true power!!

Well, you seem to have some fight in you. I commend your bravery. But you will not survive...THIS!!

Grrrrr..... I am filled with a power that you cannot begin to understand! Do you think that puny sword will save you from ME?!

You did it! Impressive! Now, quickly! We must break the curse on Zelda!

What... What is this madness?  I have the power of a god!  I have unstoppable might!!!  How could I lose to a child?!?

Link, thank you so much for saving me. When I was turned to stone, I saw visions of you, as if in a dream.

Oh! That shield! I...remember it...  You still have it? That's so sweet! I knew I could count on you.

It looks like the curse has been broken. I'm glad we made it in time.

No! The castle's collapsing!  It's too dangerous here. Quickly! We must escape from the castle!

Hrmm... The door is blocked! We have no choice... Head back to the sanctuary!

So, Link! Now that you have the power of the Four Sword... you must return Princess Zelda to normal!

Link! And you, Ezlo!  I will not let you escape this place alive... Witness the power of Vaati's Wrath! I have transcended! I am all there is! Allow me to give you a taste of pure power, of unstoppable might!

Heh heh heh heh... You will not escape, boy. Now, you will see the true power of the light force... For I have become Vaati, the master of this world!

Fool! I... But the light force... My power... I had such power...

These Black Knights are in Vaati's service! Exercise caution, Link!

If we don't stop Vaati here, Princess Zelda--and all of Hyrule--is done for! We cannot allow that to happen, Link!

So this is the true form of the sorcerer Vaati! So dark... So powerful... So evil!

Link, judging by the look in your eyes, I'd say you've made up your mind! Excellent! Perhaps now, we are ready to face Vaati!

He's mad with power! He's nothing but a swirling mass of raw chaos now! He will consume everything and reduce the world to darkness! If we let him go now, he will engulf the world in an eternal night!

What are you doing!? We've no time for any of your nonsense!

Waugh! What a hideous face! ...It's no good, Link. We tried to settle this peacefully, but some people can't be reasoned with...

Link, save your breath! Fight now and talk later!

Link, thank goodness you're safe... You defeated Vaati... You were so brave! But we've lost so much... The castle... All those people...

What's this?  The curse... Defeating Vaati seems to have broken the curse he cast upon me!

Allow me to introduce myself to you, Princess Zelda. My name is Ezlo, master of Minish lore and sorcery. The mage's cap was my creation.  But its limitless power has caused nothing but trouble for your kind. Is there any way you can forgive me?  I know many have fallen, and much of the castle has been destroyed... But it is too soon to give in to despair. The curse on me is broken, and Zelda still possesses some of the light force. Perhaps, together, we can do something to make things right.

If one with a just heart wears this cap, things can be made right again.

Princess Zelda! Let your wishes be made real!

Hmm-hmm!  The hat is falling apart. It's overflowing with the power of life! The hat has the power to turn the thoughts of its wearer into reality. Vaati's heart was filled with evil, and that was reflected in what he became. But it seems that Zelda's pure heart, coupled with the hat's power... ...has created a miracle!

Hmm... It looks like the time for us to part has come. The Minish Door opens but once every century, and soon, it must close. I must leave you both now and return to my homeland. I know I've caused you much suffering, but the evil one's power has withered. The power of Princess Zelda herself has restored the light to Hyrule.

Well, Link, my journey with you has been exciting, to say the least. In fact, I'm...more than just a little sad that we must part ways now.

Please, accept this...

Heh... You know, I've never actually seen you wearing a cap until now! It suits you, little hero.

Take care...

Look! The castle! All the people who had been turned to stone! They're all back to normal!

Farewell, my friend...

So, Link! Now that you have the power of the Four Sword... you must return Princess Zelda to normal!