Part 1: The Picori Festival

A long, long time ago...

when the world was on the verge of being swallowed by shadow...

The tiny Picori appeared from the sky, bringing the hero of men a sword and a golden light.

With wisdom and courage, the hero drove out the darkness.

When peace had been restored, the people enshrined that blade with care.

And the force of the golden light, embodied in Hyrule's princess, shone forth upon the lands.

Heh heh heh... So that's what it means...

Good morning, Master Smith.

Goodness me! Princess Zelda!  Did you sneak out of the castle and come all this way alone? The minister is sure to be worried about you! You know how he gets!

Oh, don't worry about him! He'll be fine. Where's Link? The whole town is bustling for the annual Picori Festival! I thought he and I might go together. Would you mind terribly?

Oh, is that what you're here for?  Well, Link was up late helping me last night, and he's still asleep... But I do have an errand at the castle... Yes, that should be fine.

Link, time to get up!

Hey! Link!  Princess Zelda is here. She'd like to know if you'd join her at the festival.

Yeah, Link. Come on! Let's go check out the festival together! Master Smith already gave me permission to take you!

Yes. After all, the festival only comes once a year. Go on, have fun! And while you're there, you can do me a favor. I just finished making this sword for the minister at Hyrule Castle. I'd like you to deliver it to him.

This is the blade that will be presented to the winner of the competition. Don't lose it. And while the two of you may be childhood friends, remember...

Master Smith, quit worrying! We'll be perfectly safe. Come on, Link! Let's go check out the festival!

Zelda is the princess of Hyrule.  You watch over her. Don't let anything bad happen to her.

Link! Over here!

Come on, Link. Let's hurry to the castle.

Link! Hurry! Let's go!

Over here! Come on! Hurry up!

Well, here we are! The town of Hyrule!

Here we are, Link! Doesn't it look fun?

Come on! Let's look around!

Link, there's a storyteller here! We should stop and listen to-- Oh! I wonder what's over there...

So the Picori ARE real! My father always told me they were. Oh! Look at that!

Say, wasn't there going to be a sword- fighting tournament at the castle? I wonder who won this year...  Oh, wow! Over here!

Link! Where are you going? Over here! This way!

Welcome to the Picori Festival!  They say that, every hundred years, the Picori come to Hyrule... And this is the 100th year, to the day, since the last time the Picori were here!

Long, long ago, and then even longer before that... Evil creatures appeared in the world of humans. They were powerful, frightening beasts, and they created such trouble! But then the Picori came from the sky, bringing humans powerful magic. With the magic light force and the Picori Blade, the beasts were repelled. And the world of humans once more knew peace, thanks to the Picori. So as not to forget our gratitude, we hold this festival each year. Now, remember, little ones... The Picori only appear before good little children. If you only do bad deeds, you will never get to see them! So be good!

I don't believe in the Picori!  I'm not a kid anymore! I'm too old to believe in any stupid old fairy tales!

Do you think I'll really see the Picori if I'm on my best behavior all the time?

Come on up! Come one, come all! Gather round and have a look-see! I'm having a huge sale on all manner of delicious and festive vegetables!

Oh, hi! Are you enjoying the festival? It's so much fun! I'm so happy to be here! And my fresh fruits are just delicious! Buy some!

Come one! Come all! Try your luck, and win incredible prizes!

Hey, guy, have you ever seen the Picori? I saw one just the other day! It wore a red cone-shaped hat, and it was really small... And it was standing inside my dad's shoe! I really saw it! I swear!

So, so, so... I've been good all year? Like, all year long? And you know how the Picori only show themselves if you've been good? And so, so, so I'm just waiting for the Picori to come and play with me.

Only once every hundred years does the mystic doorway open. This is the door that links the human world to the world of the Picori. When this door opens, the Picori can enter our world. And guess what! This marks the hundredth year since they last appeared here! I'm sure something wonderful is going to happen at this festival!

Each year, there is a sword-fighting tournament at the Picori Festival. This year's tournament is already over. I couldn't believe how fast it went! I hear the victor was a mysterious man dressed entirely in black.

They say the Picori bring happiness to all the humans they meet... I wonder when they will bring happiness to me...

Are you enjoying yourself, Link? This is the biggest festival in Hyrule! If you don't stop to enjoy it, you'll miss out on all the fun!

I've been on the road for a while. I came back in time for the festival. It feels wonderful to be back in Hyrule again, in this joyous time! I... I must put these feelings into verse!

I love festivals. It's like seeing your town transform into another world! It really gives you a chance to think about how well we have it here...

People from all over the place come to Hyrule Town for the Picori Festival.

You're the boy from old Master Smith's place, right? I'm sure you know this, but he's the best swordsmith Hyrule's ever seen! Every year, I enter the tournament trying to win that sword of his. I haven't won yet, and maybe I never will, but the tournament was awesome! The winner this year was a new face. I've been wondering where he's from. He used some incredible techniques and won the whole tourney in record time!

I've been dispatched from Hyrule Castle up north to watch over the festivities.

I've never seen the Picori before...

You two must be great friends!

I'm going to look for Picori! Mom said there'd be Picori at the festival!

I saw it! There was a Picori here just a second ago! No, really!

This is my first ever Picori Festival! So...where are all the Picori, anyway?

Day and night, he's going on and on about Picori this and Picori that! Doesn't he know they're nothing but a silly fairy tale to make kids behave?

I'm just on my way back from seeing the tournament at Hyrule Castle. Let me tell you! Watching all those sword fights made me hungry!

Phew... Preparing for the festival left me absolutely exhausted... Still, I'm just enjoying watching people have fun.

Hey, hey! Come on up! Take a shot! Win a prize!

My sister and I came a long way to see the Picori Festival this year. Is it true the festival's named after tiny people the size of my thumb? I want to see what they look like! Do you know where I can go to see them?

We have a winner!

Oh, my! Princess Zelda! You won the grand prize in our drawing? Wow! You get your choice of any of these wonderful prizes. What will it be?

First, we have...this lovely heart-shaped stone! Next, we have...

this magnificent gem! And finally, there's...

this teeny-tiny shield.

So, which one would you like?  Let me guess...the jewel? Oh, but this heart stone is very cute, too. Choose whichever one you like!

The shield is so adorable! I think I'll take it.

What!? Why? Why would you want that ugly thing!? What about the heart stone! It's cute!  Or... Or this giant gem! It's pretty!  Honestly, they're both much nicer than that nasty little shield thing.

Nope! I want the shield. Can I have it?

What a strange princess you are. Well... OK. Here's your teeny-tiny shield.

Here! I want to give you a present!  Doesn't this shield suit you perfectly, Link?

Yep! Just as I thought! You look great!  Now, if anything happens, you can protect me with that shield! Oh! I almost forgot! We have to take Master Smith's sword to the castle. Let's go, Link.

Owwwwch!  That must be the Business Scrub I heard the soldiers talking about. They were saying a Deku Scrub had been hassling all the passersby. Link, do something about it! Otherwise, we can't get to the castle. If only we had some way to defend ourselves against those nuts of his.

If we could just defend against those nuts, I'm sure we could do something!

I actually feel a little sorry for that Business Scrub. But that nut hurt! Oh, well. He won't be hassling anyone now! We'd better hurry to the castle!

Where are you going, Link? Hurry up and do something!

Please! Forgive me, sir!  I heard there was a festival, and I came to town hoping to hawk my wares. Unfortunately, we scrubs have a tendency to spit nuts when we speak! Everyone got scared and ran away, and no one would buy anything! This is a terrible place to do business! I'm going back to my cave!

All right! To the castle we go!

Oh! Link! You brought the sword, did you? Then, as minister to the kingdom of Hyrule, I, Potho, accept this blade. You came just in time. The award ceremony will begin soon.

I'm sorry, Link, but I'd better go. I have to prepare for the ceremony. I had a good time at the festival. Thanks for coming with me!

Since you're here, Link, why don't you join us for the award ceremony?

Do you know about that sword, Link? It is called the Picori Blade, and it locks much evil away in that chest. The Picori Blade is sacred among the people of Hyrule. The legend has it that, long ago, the Picori gave us this blade. Whoever wins the competition earns the honor of touching the sacred blade.

Let the award ceremony commence!  Vaati, champion of the competition, you may approach the blade!

Ah! Princess Zelda!! Wh-- When did you leave the castle?!

Welcome to Hyrule Castle!

Sorry, but we're getting things ready for the ceremony. I can't let you pass.

Preparations for the award ceremony are coming along nicely.

Sorry, but I can't let you pass. We've sealed the area off because of Vaati.

Ah, the sword for the award ceremony! You should take that to Minister Potho. You'll find him in front of the castle.

Heh heh heh...  To think things would go this well!  The Picori Blade and the Bound Chest spoken of in Hylian lore... This chest must hold that which I seek! I'll relieve you of its contents now.

Mmmm ah hah hah hah! Do not interfere with me... As victor, I've earned the right to approach the Picori Blade... I've been waiting for this moment!

Who are you? Why are you doing this?

The princess with the mystic aura...  ...The power that was gifted to the people of Hyrule still flows within the veins of the ladies of its royal family? Interesting... If I leave you now, you'll only cause me trouble later. That will never do.

To stone with you!

Link! Watch out!

...?!?  Empty? There was nothing in there but a rabble of monsters? What is the meaning of this?  Well, I know the force I'm after is somewhere out there. I'm in no hurry. I can take my time searching for it. Heh heh heh...

Heh heh heh heh... All who stand in my way shall share this fate! Now, to find out what power awaits me in this chest!

Eeeeeeeek!

It is as you have all heard.  A sorcerer named Vaati has cursed my fair Zelda and turned her to stone. If we had the sacred Picori Blade, we likely could have broken the curse. But Vaati shattered the blade...  However, I have not given up hope. What do you know about the Picori?

The Picori? Not much, beyond what the fairy tales say... They're supposed to be very tiny, if I'm remembering correctly.

Yes, the ones from the fairy tales...  But the Picori are no mere legend. They most certainly exist. No one outside of the royal family knows the truth about them. The Picori, who forged the sacred blade, live deep within Minish Woods. They should be able to repair the broken blade and reforge the sword.

Wh-What!? Then we must dispatch the soldiers there at once!

No, soldiers will not do.  The Picori do not show themselves to anyone but children. Our soldiers could search for days and still find no sign of them.

I see...  If that's the case, then why not send Link?

If Link has recovered, then yes, I would like to ask this of him. Please, turn my precious Zelda back to normal. The Picori should know how to create a new sacred sword. It will be a dangerous journey, now that those monsters have been freed. Please, take this sword with you, along with the broken Picori Blade.

Very well, then. Send the soldiers to search for Vaati at once!

Deep within the Minish Woods, you will find a place called Deepwood Shrine. Once, humans and Picori shared that shrine as a meeting place. I think it would be best if you started your search there.

Take this map with you.

Minish Woods lies southeast of the town of Hyrule. In fact, it's due east of your house, Link.

Oh, Link. You're awake. Are you feeling all right? Stand at my side. The king of Hyrule is about to speak.

I am counting on you, Link.  Only you can break Vaati's curse and free Princess Zelda.

If you get lost on your way to the forest, simply check your map. Just press START and then L or R to open the map. I've marked the location of the forest for you. Good luck, and be careful.

Oh, thank goodness! You've awakened!

Master Smith is here as well. He's come to see His Majesty the king.

Please find a way to break the curse on Princess Zelda.

Please be careful!

Press R while walking to roll. This is useful when you want to move fast. Don't forget! And if you want to save during the game, press START and choose SAVE from the Items screen or the Quest Status screen.