The Master Sword and Conclusion to Part I

The Master Sword is Waiting...

Before Link can claim the Master Sword after winning the three pearls from Ganon's generals in the Light World, he must brave the maze known as the Lost Woods.  This actually isn't that much of a problem.  These woods aren't too complicated in their puzzle, and the only thing Link really has to watch for is the occasional green knight and the persistent thieves that roam the forests.  One would think that thieves would choose a more frequently traveled area for their business, after all, more targets = more revenue for them, but hey, what do I know, I'm not in that business.  When you finally successfully make it through the fog-covered path, you will reach the altar where the master sword sleeps: interestingly, this area is also accompanied by several tiny woodland creatures.

Link wins the Master Sword!

Hold up the pendants, and Link will unsheathe the Master Sword from its pedestal.  This thematic display worms its way into several titles after, though it is a wonderful one: the Hero of Time lays claim to the weapon that will aid him in his quest to ward off evil.  In a game synergy note, I would like to note that in a few future titles, the Lost Woods is where Link will find the Master Sword: however, this is not always the case: perhaps the Hylians moved its location to deter evil from finding it and destroying it (since they can't wield it).  That would actually be a smart move.  Either way, Link now has the weapon he needs, according to the priest we met at the beginning of the game, to defeat Agahnim and put a stop to all of this nonsense.  Right?  RIGHT?!  Maybe.

Zelda needs help!

As soon as you exit the sanctuary that held the Master Sword, you are reminded of the true goal of the first quest: that Zelda is in danger.  You didn't really think that she was safe with the priest in the Sanctuary, did you?  You didn't think that leaving her with that elderly man would be proper defense, did you?  You didn't think that Agahnim would never find her there, did you?  Well, I hope you didn't think any of these things.  I sure didn't, I knew that I'd need to save her again.  Luckily, Zelda has telepathic powers and tells you of the danger she is now in.  Hero that you are, let's go and save her...after we run a few errands, of course!

Ether Medallion

Since we now have the Master Sword, we can now unlock the medallions.  Why did we need the Master Sword for these?  Mechanic wise, these medallions unlock dungeons within the Dark World.  So it only makes sense that you would have the Master Sword, the blade that will allow you to confront Agahnim and advance the plot, before you can have the magic that will allow you to roam the Dark World.  This game actually makes magic useful, although it is costly and one must always watch their magic meter: the Ether Medallion not only helps you against enemies, but it also lights the way in certain scenarios and opens up certain doors.  Magic is no longer as limited, it is up to the player to choose which magic to use and when, though it does have its limits in that only certain magic solves certain puzzles but what exactly can you do to fix that?

Hyrule Castle, We're Back!

One way or another, Zelda won't leave you alone until you storm Hyrule Castle again.  This time it's really easy though!  You just walk through the front door like you own the place and find your way to the top entrance so that you can explore the parts of Hyrule Castle you didn't (and couldn't) before.  The Master Sword breaks the barrier on this door, and when you enter you look like you're in a castle instead of a bunch of stone corridors underneath it.  We now get to explore the castle proper...and deal with the worst of Agahnim's troops.  Which are a joke.  The elite guard in the upper chambers of the castle are just as easily fooled as the knights guarding the outside, which is unfortunate: these idiots run right into your sword time and time again.  The only difference is that if they manage to hit you it hurts more.  You know, if they manage to hit you.  There is very little puzzle value to the path to Agahnim: in fact, you quite literally get the red carpet treatment all the way to his room.

Link Meets Agahnim

Finally, the final showdown (of Part I, anyway).  We are lead to believe, though, that this is the final showdown for the entire game.  It definitely seems that way, for the wise men believe that Agahnim is behind all of this and defeating him is the key to victory.  They'll change their tune very quickly, don't worry they have their eyes on you (after all, Sasharala AND Zelda did say that they sensed an evil force was guiding this man's actions.  So they have their suspicions).  When you reach the boss chamber, Zelda is asleep and Agahnim is preparing to send her to the Dark World using his fell magic.  Apparently, he was hoping you would show up to see this.  Maybe that's why the elite guard was so easy.  Zelda vanishes before Link's eyes, and we found out earlier that the Master Sword doesn't damage Agahnim's body...so why did we spend the entire first part of the game getting it?  Well, it does repel evil...and we send Agahnim's magic right back at him, and in an ironic twist, his own magic does him in.  But he has his own surprise...he's going to send us to the dark world!  (This will end in irony again since this move only allows us to defeat Ganon and free the Golden Realm from his clutches...)

A Door Opens!

...and the second part of our quest begins!