The Minish Cap Walkthroughs
Chapter 9, Whispers of the Dead

First things first, whip out the Ocarina and fly back to Hyrule Town. Now, we need to head back to the Elemental Chamber so we can get the ability to split into three Links. As such, head to the Castle Gardens to find that the way into the Castle is… closed. Well, we’ll need to find another way in, eh?

Head to the left half of the Gardens to find a scene reminiscent of Ocarina of Time: a sneak past the guards sequence. It’s fairly simple, so I’ll spare you a detailed description. Just keep a hedge in between you and them, and be wary that the last guard can see you from pretty far, so when you’re in the homestretch heading north, beat feat around the corner.

On the other side of the hedge maze, chop up the bushes (in the 3x3 area) to find a ladder. Head down into the tunnel, killing three ropes as you go, and into the Castle basement. Head into the Elemental Chamber and power you’re sword up so you can split three ways. Now head back up that ladder and go in the stairs to the right of it to find a Fairy Fountain inside.

Now leave the Hedge Maze (get caught for a shortcut) and explore the right side of the Gardens. Use the boots to run into the sparkling tree to reveal a shrink stump. Now, utilize that stump to shrink down. Head up and go through the hole in the hedge and into the hole to find a Fusion-able Minish down there, and into the hole in the wall past the staircase is a chest with 50 Mysterious Shells. On the opposite side of the map in the staircase, there is a similar hole in the wall with a similar treasure within. To get there, head left and head through the hedges in between the little flower trails. When you grow up, go down those stairs to find a Heart Piece inside.

Once all this is complete, leave the Gardens and head to the left to find a ladder past a cracked rock. Blow the rock with a bomb and go down the ladder. In here, ignore the split tiles for a moment and take the staircase down to find a Heart Piece (protected by three Keese) in the chamber below. Go back up the stairs and use the split tiles to push the big block out of your way. Head up the ladder beyond.

Emerge above ground and kill the Octoroks around you and go up the stairs there. Crack open the chest to find 200 Mysterious Shells (!) inside. Now head left to enter the Royal Valley.

Light your lamp (it’s pretty dark here) and head over to the upper left of the map. Along the way you’ll find Ghinis and Crows attacking you. Watch out for the crows especially since they’ll steal red rupees fro you! At the upper left of the map head up into the Lost Woods. Now, follow this path: up, left, left, up, right, and up. You’ll here a nosie tell you that you are (pun alert) out of the woods.

"This pattern *may* be random. If so, the signs will tell you where to go. Be sure to trace your path as you’ll get some “same as before” or “same as beginning” ones."

Now, head to the upper right of the area to find a small house, wherein lives Dampe, that familiar character. Talk to him to get the graveyard key. Leave the house and a crow will knock you down and steal your key. To get it back, head to the lower left corner of the area and use the Pegasus Boots that the key and bird are resting in. The Key will fly to the ground and you can reclaim it. Run back to Dampe and he’ll open the gate for you.

Ahead in the graveyard head to the top left and push the grave forward, revealing a staircase. Head downstairs and use the split tiles to push the big block away, letting you grab the Heart Piece!

Head back above ground and to the right side of the map to see a bunch of square stones. Smash them to pieces with your sword to reveal some split tiles. Use the tiles by starting on the far right one and stop so that you are on the far left one. Now, you need to pass the gravestone just ahead of you. Do so by getting Link up along the left side of it, then inch past the gate, and move left ASAP, so that you can slip the other two past on either side of the tombstone. When that acrobatic feat is done, head left and step on the switches to open the way into the Royal Crypt.