Ride Epona to Great Bay and help Mikau reach the shore. Obtain the Zora Mask, infiltrate the Pirates’ Fortress for the Hookshot and recover all seven Zora Eggs to learn the New Wave Bossa Nova.
Mikau and the Zora Mask
Jump over the two fences with Epona and follow the path to Great Bay Coast. An injured Zora is floating in the sea. Swim out to him, stand behind him and push him to the beach. The Zora is called Mikau, guitarist of the The Indigo-Go’s. He was seriously injured by the Gerudo pirates while trying to retrieve the seven stolen eggs from the singer Lulu. Mikau is no longer able to complete his task himself. Play him the Song of Healing. After his final performance, he finds peace and leaves Link the Zora Mask.
Using the Zora Mask, Link transforms into Zora Link. Underwater, he can breathe indefinitely, swim quickly, walk on the ocean floor, and throw his fins like boomerangs. By pressing R, he also creates a protective electric field that consumes magic and injures enemies while swimming. First use the new form on the owl statue at the Marine Research Lab and activate it. Also, shoot down Tingle’s balloon and buy the Great Bay card if it is still missing. In the research laboratory, the professor explains to you that all seven Zora eggs must be brought into his large aquarium. Four are in the Pirates’ Fortress, three more were lost at Pinnacle Rock.
3D Difference: Zora Link has been significantly changed in Majora’s Mask 3D. The very fast swimming uses magic there and is coupled with the electrical protective field; Without using magic, Link swims much slower. The location of the Zora Mask and Mikau’s story remain unchanged.
Before we swim to the Pirates’ Fortress, return briefly to the cave just described in the western level of Termina and get the sunken Piece of Heart from the bottom of the pool under the wasp nests as a Zora Link.
Piece of Heart at the waterfall
Go from Skull Coast through the southern passage to Cape Zora. Follow the beach to the large waterfall. As Zora Link, jump into the deep pool and sink to the bottom. There are several enemies swimming there, including a large predatory slime. Defeat him with the Zora Fins or the Electric Shield. He leaves behind another Piece of Heart. We can only reach the beavers above the waterfall once the Hookshot is in our possession; we will return here later in this chapter.
Pirates’ Fortress – secret underwater access
Swim back to the northern part of the Great Bay and then towards the Pirates’ Fortress. Four large wooden panels stand next to each other under water. As Zora Link, ram the second plate from the left at full swimming speed and you will break through the secret entrance into the lagoon of the Gerudo pirates.
Several pirates are patrolling with boats. In the Nintendo 64 version, this section is much easier thanks to the Stone Mask that you have already received, because the normal guards do not notice Link with it. First swim to the opposite side and climb onto land. Transform into Goron Link and perform a Goron Stomp on the large Floor Switch. This will open an underwater gate for a short time. Immediately switch to Zora Link, jump into the water and swim through.
The following tunnel consists of a block puzzle and several water flows. First, ram the wooden planks, push the first block out of the way and pull the second one back so that a passage is created. Then swim through the uncovered passage. Water mines hang in the way along the way; swims close to the bottom and avoids them. A current finally lifts you into the next room.
Piece of Heart in the prison cell
While still in the underground part of the fortress you will pass a locked cell, behind the bars of which a Piece of Heart is already visible. Go up the stairs and destroy the large barrels on the upper level as Goron Link. There is a switch underneath. As soon as you step on it, the gate only opens for a short time. Therefore, transform yourself into Goron Link beforehand, activate the switch and immediately roll down the stairs into the cell. Open or touch the Piece of Heart there before the grid closes again. The switch then opens it again so you can leave the room.
Then continue to follow the designated water channel. In a room you have to shoot water mines so that their explosion activates Crystal Switch. Later you turn a crank as Goron Link and use another switch to turn on a water jet as an elevator. At the end you will reach a room with a telescope. Look through into the inner courtyard and watch the pirates. Then shoot the water mine above the switch, which opens the exit. Climb outside and you will find yourself in the inner part of the Pirates’ Fortress.
Stone Mask in Majora’s Mask 3D
In the Nintendo 64 and GameCube versions we already received the Stone Mask from Shiro on the way to Ikana. In Majora’s Mask 3D, however, Shiro sits directly under the central watchtower of the Pirates’ Fortress. Use the Lens of Truth there until the invisible soldier becomes visible, talk to him and give him a red or blue elixir. As a thank you, Link receives the Stone Mask. Even in the remake, most normal pirates then ignore Link as long as he is wearing them.
Hookshot
Sneak in the courtyard to the central building. With the Stone Mask you can easily walk past most guards; without them you use barrels, walls and arrows to avoid detection. Enter the building and follow the hallway until a cutscene begins. You eavesdrop on the leader Aveil and learn that four Zora eggs are stored in the fortress, while three more were stolen by sea serpents at Pinnacle Rock.
A beehive hangs above the room. Shoot it with an arrow. The startled bees drive away Aveil and the other pirates. Then go back and enter her now empty room. In the large Treasure Chest is the Hookshot.
The Hookshot draws Link to wooden beams, trees, targets and certain enemies. He can also drag distant objects to Link, becoming one of the most important tools in the solution from now on.
The four Zora eggs in the Pirates’ Fortress
The first aquarium is located directly in the room with the Hookshot. Use the Hookshot to pull yourself onto the wooden beam above the water, put on the Zora Mask and sink to the bottom. Defeat the shell when it opens and put the first Zora egg into an Empty Bottle. With four free bottles you can take all four eggs in one go; According to our N64 route, Link now has four bottles, so no stopover is necessary. The eggs must later be placed in the large aquarium of the Marine Research Lab.
Leave the room and work your way to the southwest side of the fortress courtyard with the Hookshot. In front of each of the three remaining eggs you have to defeat a Gerudo pirate in direct combat. The opponents block many frontal attacks with their two sabers, which is why you wait for their own attack, block with your shield or dodge sideways and then counter immediately. Don’t let her jump attack hit you; If Link is defeated or overwhelmed in these rooms, he ends up outside the fortress again.
After each victory, the path to another aquarium opens. Use the Hookshot on the beam above the pool, transform into Zora Link and fill the egg into an Empty Bottle. In this way you collect the second, third and fourth Zora egg. Also take a photo of a Gerudo pirate with the Pictograph Box in one of the guard rooms. The picture must show the pirate sufficiently large and clearly; we need it immediately afterwards for the fisherman’s seahorse.
Then take the four eggs to the Marine Research Lab. Climb onto the large aquarium and empty every bottle above the water. The four eggs will remain safe there even if you leave the fortress.
With the Hookshot: Song of the Scarecrow and two Pieces of Heart
The Hookshot immediately opens several Locations that were previously unreachable. If you haven’t decided on your own song at the beginning of the cycle, visit the scarecrow in the observatory or general store in West Clock Town and play him a sequence of eight notes of your choice. This Scarecrow’s Song summons a scarecrow at certain points that Link can use as a target for the Hookshot.
First teleport to Snowhead, go back one area and roll over the first large gap as Goron Link. Then use the Lens of Truth. Several invisible platforms lead far towards a remote island, but end before the destination. Stand on the last platform and play the scarecrow’s song. The scarecrow appears on the island. Pull yourself towards her with the Hookshot and take the Piece of Heart lying there with you.
Then return to the Great Bay and swim to the northern section of the coast in front of the Pirates’ Fortress. There are several tall pillars with fishing hook targets on the rock wall. Pull yourself up one at a time until you reach a spot of soft earth. Plant a Miracle Pea and play Song of Storms to make the plant grow immediately. Ride on its leaf to the next platform, play the scarecrow’s song again and use the Hookshot to pull you to the target that appears. Another Piece of Heart is waiting there.
Swamp Spider House – Mask of Truth
With the Hookshot we now have all the important tools for the Swamp Spider House. Teleport to the Southern Swamp and enter the house. The target is all 30 Gold Skulltulas. Take at least one magic pea, a bottle of spring water or the anthem of the storm and some beetles; several Skulltulas hide in soft holes in the earth on the walls. Fire Arrows burns spider webs, while the Hookshot kills distant Skulltulas and draws their symbols directly to Link.
Searches every room completely and listens for the typical scratching noise. Some Skulltulas sit in pitchers, others in beehives, behind vines or in the aforementioned holes in the ground. Also rolls into suspicious trees and boxes. Once the counter reaches 30, returns to the input. The man freed from the spider curse gives Link the Mask of Truth. With it you can read the minds of animals and understand Gossip Stones. Among other things, it is needed for the dog racing track at the Romani Ranch and various clues later in the game.
Dog Racing at Romani Ranch – Piece of Heart
Then teleport to Romani Ranch and visit Mamamu Yan’s dog track. Put on the Mask of Truth and pick up the dogs one by one. Link can now read her thoughts. Choose a dog that is particularly self-confident and talks about feeling excellent or confident of winning.
Bet at least 10 Rupees on this dog. The goal is not just a single win, but a total win of at least 150 Rupees. After each race, select a dog again based on their thoughts. As soon as your winnings reach the required amount, you will receive another Piece of Heart.
Oceanside Spider House – Giant Wallet and Piece of Heart
Return to Skull Coast. It’s right next to the fishing hut Oceanside Spider House. In the Nintendo 64 version it should definitely still be on first day be completed. Blow up the cracked wall in the entrance area and work your way through the multi-story house. As in the swamp, there must be a total of 30 Gold Skulltulas can be found, this time you need it above all Hookshot, Fire Arrows and Goron Mask. Skulltulas hide behind paintings and bookshelves, in jars and boxes, on ceiling beams, and behind spider webs. The Hookshot The search makes the search much easier as it drags the removed Skulltula symbols directly to Link.
Meanwhile, wear the Captain’s Hat and talk to the six Stalchildren in the house: two are in the library, four in the dining room. Everyone tells you part of a sequence. Note the colors of the wall masks mentioned. Then shoot the four masks in the dining room in exactly the specified order. The grate in the chimney opens and behind the passage lies another Piece of Heart.
Once all 30 Gold Skulltulas are defeated, return to the entrance. A man wants to use the now safe house as protection from the moon and gives Link the Giant Wallet, which holds up to 500 Rupees.
N64 note: You will only get the Giant Wallet if the 30 Skulltulas have been completely collected on the first day. On the second or third day there is only Rupees.
3D Difference: In Majora’s Mask 3D you will receive the stock wallet upgrade regardless of which of the three days the Skulltula House is completed. The mask puzzle in the remake also uses symbols instead of just different colored masks.
Seahorse and Pinnacle Rock
Go to the fisherman’s hut next to the Skulltula House and talk to the fisherman about the seahorse in his aquarium. Show him a photo of a Gerudo pirate. The fisherman is satisfied with this and gives Link the Seahorse, which automatically ends up in a free bottle.
Then swim to the two large rocky peaks far out in the sea and enter the Pinnacle Rock. The water here is so cloudy that it’s easy to lose your bearings without help. As Zora Link, sink to the bottom and let the seahorse out of the bottle. It leads you safely through the invisible route to the center of the rock formation.
A total of eight sea snakes live there. Swim to one of their caves and lure the snake out. Once she reveals her long body, attack the sensitive neck with the Zora Electric Shield or Zora Fins. Three of the snakes each guard a Zora Egg; After the fight, fill the eggs into your empty bottles. However, defeat all eight sea serpents, not just the three necessary ones. The last one frees a second seahorse. Both are reunited and, out of gratitude, give Link a Piece of Heart.
Then bring the three eggs to the Marine Research Lab. With the four eggs from the Pirates’ Fortress, all seven are now in the large aquarium.
New Wave Bossa Nova
Once the seventh egg is inserted, the baby Zoras hatch. They arrange themselves in the aquarium in the shape of musical notes. Transform into Zora Link, take out the Guitar of Waves and play the melody shown. Link learns the New Wave Bossa Nova.
This name is the official German name of the song; “New Wave Bossa Nova” is exclusively the English name. The melody represents the forgotten song that Lulu knew from her mother. Only when Link plays it for her can she regain her voice and the path to Great Bay Temple can be opened.
Fish in the research laboratory – Piece of Heart
Before you leave the research laboratory, take care of the smaller aquarium right at the entrance. Two larger fish swim in it. Fills several bottles with small fish; You will find plenty of them in the Great Bay and in shallow water holes in Termina. Climb onto the aquarium and put the little fish in it. One of the two residents devours it and gradually grows. After feeding about four fish, he finally eats the second big fish and spits out a Piece of Heart.
Rapids – fifth bottle and Piece of Heart
Swim to Cape Zora again and go to the big waterfall. Using the Hookshot we can now reach the trees on the ledges above the pool. Pull yourself up tree by tree until you reach the entrance to the Waterfall Rapids. A beaver swims in the upper pool. Transform into Zora Link and talk to him.
In the first race you have to outrun the beaver 20 rings follow and reach the goal within the given time limit. Stay as directly behind him as possible, as the rings will appear along his route. After the victory, his older brother takes over and demands a second round 25 rings. Win this race too and the beavers will give you one Empty Bottle. In our Nintendo 64 route, this is the one fifth bottle.
Then speak to both of them again. Now you have to complete the two races again, this time with stricter time limits. Win against both brothers again and you will also receive a Piece of Heart. This means that the entire Beaver task is already completed before Great Bay Temple; Goht or Gyorg does not have to be defeated in the Nintendo 64 version.
Zora Hall – Mountain Title Deed and Piece of Heart
Now swim to the large fish-shaped Zora Hall. Lulu and the other members of the The Indigo-Go’s live here. There is a Deku Trader in Lulu’s room. Address him as Goron Link and show him the Mountain Title Deed. The trader is not very enthusiastic about the cold mountain region and exchanges his position for the Ocean Title Deed.
Then transform into Deku Link and use the now free Deku flower. Fly to the raised shell platform in the room and take the Piece of Heart lying there with you. This means that the only thing missing from the certificate exchange business is the last dealer in Ikana Canyon.
Mikau and Japas – Piece of Heart by Evan
In Mikau’s room you can use the Hookshot to pull yourself to the upper platform and read his diary. There are two short melodic sections that Mikau composed. Remember the notes and then go to Japas as a Zora link. Get out the guitar and play him the two melodies. Japas adds additional notes to each of them, so that in the end a complete song is created.
Then go to Evan, the bandleader of the The Indigo-Go’s. It is important that you change back into normal Link before playing it. Evan is said to believe that Link himself composed the piece; as Zora Link he reacts differently. Play him the full melody. Evan is thrilled and gives you another Piece of Heart.
Lulu and the path to Great Bay Temple
Leave the Zora Hall through the rear exit to Cape Zora. Lulu stands silently on the beach and looks out to sea. Transform yourself into Zora Link, introduce yourself to her and play the New Wave Bossa Nova on Mikau’s guitar. Lulu recognizes her mother’s song and gets her voice back.
The supposed island off the coast then begins to move in the sea. In fact, it is a huge Giant Turtle that has been sleeping for a long time. She agrees to take Link through the dangerous fog to Great Bay Temple. Before you leave, activate the owl statue at Cape Zora if you haven’t already. Then use the Hookshot to hold onto one of the palm trees on the turtle’s back.
The turtle swims with Link through the storm to the third major dungeon. We continue with the Great Bay Temple.
