ITEMS TO GET: Mirror Shield

   To get through the next area, you'll need 10 bombs, 5 Magic Beans, and a Blue Potion -- the rest of the items can be found beneath the well. The easiest way to get your hands on a Blue Potion is to buy one from the Deku Scrub in the southeast corner of the river valley; you can also get one by finding a mushroom with the Mask of Scents and giving it to the witches.

   Put on the Gibdo Mask and hop down the well on the west side of Ikana Valley. To navigate this area, you'll have to give various items to the Gibdos blocking the doors; be sure to have the mask on or the Gibdos will attack you instead.

    Start by going due north and talking to the Gibdo there. Give him your Blue Potion, then go to the east side of the same room and give 5 Magic Beams to that Gibdo. Head east to the next screen. Use a Fire Arrow to destroy the ice statue, then venture into the room it was in. There are a bunch of Deku Babs here; kill them until you have at least 10 Deku Nuts. Head to the far east side of your current section -- look out for the Wallmaster -- and use the 10 Nuts to get through the door.

    Return to the first room and go through the north door. Bottle one of the fish in the pond to your left, then go back to the main room and go right one screen. Give your fish to the Gibdo to the north, but don't go through the door. Continue east one more screen and give 10 Bombs to the Gibdo to the north. Pass through the door; you'll be in a large room.

   When you step into the middle of this room, a Big Poe will appear, shoot it with arrows until it dies. A glowing spirit will appear where it was -- capture it in a bottle, then go one screen south and one screen west. Go north here (this was the door that you used the fish to open) and give the Big Poe to the Gibdo at the north end of the hall.

    Return to the first screen and go north. Grab another fish from the pond, then switch to Deku Link and use the Deku Flower to fly over the spiked logs. Give the fish to the Gibdo on the left and pass through to the small room beyond. On the west side of the room is a hot spring. Bottle the water, then quickly run back to the starting room, and from there head to the eastmost room. Give the Hot Spring Water to the Gibdo blocking the east door. Go through.

    This room is occupied by a cow. Play Epona's Song for it and you can capture its milk in a bottle. Go two rooms west, then two screens north. More spiked pillars await; run through them and give the milk to the Gibdo at the end. In the next room, use a Fire Arrow to light one of the torches, then switch to a Deku Stick, ignite it, and light up the other torches. A chest will appear holding the Mirror Shield.

    Link automatically equips the new shield. Use it to reflect light onto the sun face on the east wall and a ladder will appear on the north. Shine light onto the sun block obstructing the ladder to destroy it, then climb up the ladder into Ikana Castle.