Bank 10: Hyrule Castle

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!

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.

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.

There are monsters outside the castle.

If you see one, use your shield to
defend yourself.
Move in close enough to use your sword
if you need to fight.

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!

Even turned to stone by Vaati's
curse, her eyes are filled with life.
Hurry... Save her...