Return to and Infiltrate the Forsaken Fortress

Keep an eye out for a large tornado on your way to the Forsaken Fortress (often seen in sections B-2, D-3 or C-6). The weather-controlling frog Cyclos uses it to travel around. Let the tornado catch you in its whirlpool, equip your Bow?and Arrow, and aim high. Shoot Cyclos three times and he will descend on a cloud and teach you the Ballad of Gales (down, right, left, up). Repeat after him and you will now be able to warp to different points on the map.

Sail to the northwestern corner of the map. You can't really use the Tornado "warp" at this time since the closest warp spot to the Forsaken Fortress doesn't land you on the ocean. Watch out for exploding barrels when you get closer to your target destination.

When you approach the Fortress itself, head straight for the large wooden gate. The island's cannons will start firing at you when you get close, but don't worry about them. Equip the Bombs?and fire your boat's cannon at the gate to blow it to smithereens. You can also destroy the cannons if you want, but it's not necessary.

Sail into the Fortress and head up the stairway to the center of the island.

Head towards the gate and you will face off with Phantom Ganon. A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time players should have no problem figuring out how to defeat this guy. Just lock on and deflect his shots back at him by hitting them with your?Sword. It's like magical tennis. Eventually, the Phantom will mess up and get hit by his own magic. This is your chance. Run in close and slash away with your sword. When he disappears, turn around as the Phantom usually rematerializes close to you. Attack him again with your Sword if he's within reach.

Nail him three times or so and he's out for the count. The gates will unlock and a treasure chest appears in the middle of the arena. Open it to get the Hammer.

Smack a few of the Miniblins that come strolling in, but don't get too carried away -- they'll respawn until the end of time. There's no denying that flattening them or hitting them with the Hammer baseball-style is a satisfying game for a while. Go to the stone steps in the southeast. Use the Hammer to smash the barricade and head on up.

Continue on the winding walkway leading south, then turn left and go through the door. Defeat the guard to get a Joy Pendant. Float to the other side of the room (or use the shelf to get across) and go through the door. Make a left and walk up the path to get to the second search light. It's important that you take this guy out, not just because you get a Joy Pendant. This light will spot you when you're trying to get further up and cause you to get shot at by the cannons. So steal the Pendant, then knock out the happy projectionist. If you don't want to collect any more Pendants, head directly to the northwest room on the shortest route (north). Float across the gap and enter through the door with the guardian statue above it. If you're still collecting, jump back down to the main courtyard instead.

Go up the stairway with the barricade again, but this time turn right to get to a ladder to the search light tower (#3). Climb up and defeat the search light operator.

Go down the ladder and climb on the wall to the right. Jump or float down and climb up the tall ladder shown in the picture below. Use your Grappling Hook?to steal a Joy Pendant from the light operator, then defeat him with your sword. Jump down to the walkway below and go through the door on the right. Make your way to the room in the southwest, shoot the guard on the other side, then float across the gap with your Deku Leaf?and collect the Joy Pendant he will have dropped. Smash the barricade with your Hammer and continue on.

Since you've already looted everything there was to get in this Fortress on your previous visit, you don't really have to go to the first floor. However, if you'd like to swipe some Skull Necklaces and see Bomb-throwing rats, by all means, knock yourself out. But when you're done, go to the room with the three doors in the northwest (2F). That's the way up. You don't have to hide from the guards anymore, of course. You're armed now.

Video Walkthrough: Return to the Forsaken Fortress

A quick word of caution about large, black spots on the ground. If you approach them, a hand will pop out and try to throw Link out of the building. As soon as the hand tries to grab you, hit it with your sword and it will retract. Do this three times and it'll be a goner.

Go through the door in the northwest room and follow the long walkway all the way up. Defeat any Bokoblins you may run into, sidle across the two narrow ledges. Smash the large switch with the Hammer and enter the large gate.

You'll meet up with two familiar girls. Then it's off to fight the boss.