Link's Awakening Trading Sequence

The Trading Sequence in Link's Awakening is a required and also an optional side-quest. It involves Link obtaining a special item and being able to trade it for another item, which in turn can be traded for another item, and so on. The final item is the Magnifying Glass, which is used to make invisible enemies appear and to read the pages of a book in Mabe Village's library.

The beginning and mid sequences of the trading sequence are required to do in order to progress further in the game. When Link got to the point where he had to enter Kanalet Castle for the first time, he couldn't because of the closed draw bridge. A monkey near the moat will build a bridge over the moat, but only if Link gives him some bananas which are the fourth item in this trading sequence. Afterwards, Link will eventually come to a point where a walrus near Animal Village blocked his path to Yarna Desert. The only way Link could move the animal was to ask for the aid of Marin and to learn the Ballad of the Wind Fish. However, Marin could not aid Link until he had given the honeycomb, the sixth item, to the Chef Bear in Animal Village.

The final item, the Magnifying Glass, is not required for Link to complete the game however. The inside of the Wind Fish's Egg has a randomly set path, and its directions could only be read from a book with very small print in Mabe Village's library. However the game chooses from seven different direction sets for the egg to use, meaning that players can easily go online to find and try out one of the possible set of directions, thus not requiring the Magnifying Glass to complete the game.

The Magnifying Glass, however, is required to obtain the Boomerang in Link's Awakening.

Two other Zelda titles have their own trading sequence, Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, however their trading sequences are completely optional unlike Link's Awakening's trading sequence.

Yoshi Doll
You will find the Yoshi Doll as a prize in the Trendy Game. It's ten Rupees per play, so make sure to have some on hand. But the doll itself is fairly easy to collect since it isn't moving like the other prizes. Item Quote: "You got a Yoshi Doll! Recently, he seems to be showing up in many games!"

Ribbon
Take the Yoshi Doll to Papahl's house in the north part of Mabe Village. Give the doll to the mother, and Link will in turn receive the Ribbon. Item Quote: "You traded your Yoshi Doll for a Ribbon! Maybe you can trade the ribbon for something else!"

Dog Food
Now take the Ribbon to the Chain-chomp in the dog house next to Madam MeowMeow's house. She will love her new "accessory" and give you the Dog Food in return. Item Quote: "You exchanged the Ribbon for Dog Food! It's full of juicy beef!"

Bananas
Head to Toronbo Shores and into Sale's Banana Shop. He will trade you the Dog Food for some Bananas. Item Quote: "You gave him the Dog Food and got Bananas in return! Good deal!"

Monkey Stick
Just to the east of Kanalet Castle is Kiki the monkey. Upon giving Kiki the bananas, more monkeys arrive and build a bridge. Not only do you now have access to the castle, but you acquired the next item in the trade sequence: a Stick! Item Quote: "You found a stick a monkey left behind... You take it!"

Honeycomb
Next, make your way to Ukuku Prairie and find Tarin. He will need your stick to knock down a bee hive. Once the cut-scene is done, you can now pick up the Honeycomb that was left behind. Item Quote: "The stick became the honeycomb! You're not sure how it happened, but take it!"

Pineapple
In Animal Village, a bear chef in the southeast house will be more than happy to take your Honeycomb. For helping him out, you receive the Pineapple. Item Quote: "You exchanged the honeycomb for a pineapple! It's not as sweet, but it is delicious!"

Hibiscus
Somewhere in the Tal Tal Mountain Range, you will come across Papahl. He is lost, just like he said he would be, and he is "famished". The "vittles" he asks for happens to be your Pineapple. Give it to him and he will give you the Hibiscus. Item Quote: "AH! This isn't meant to be a reward... Here, take this flower! It's a hibiscus!"

Letter
Head back to Animal Village. In the northeast house, there is a goat who loves flowers. Give it to her to receive the Letter. Item Quote: "You traded the hibiscus for a goat's letter! ...Great!?"

Broom
Take the Letter to weird Mr. Write. He lives just west of Goponga Swamp. Once he is given the letter, you will receive a Broom. Item Quote: "You got a Broom as your reward from Mr. Write! But that photo was not of..."

Fishing Hook
Next head back to Animal Village. Outside of Christine's house is Mrs. Ulrira. She has lost her broom, and would very much like to have yours. After the cut-scene, she finds a Fishing Hook which she gives to you in trade. Item Quote: "You exchanged the broom for the fishing hook! What will the fishing hook become?"

Necklace
Now go see the fisherman underneat the bridge at Martha's Bay. If you give him the hook, he promises to give you his next catch. It is none other than the Mermaid's lost Necklace. Item Quote: "The fishing hook became a necklace! L-l-lucky!"

Scale
Obviously, Link should return the Necklace to its proper owner. Martha the mermaid is so thankful that she lets Link pick a Scale from her tail. Item Quote: "You returned the necklace and got a scale of the mermaid's tail. How will you use this?"

Magnifying Glass
Finally, we arrive at the conclusion to this sequence. Take the Scale and place it in the Mermaid Statue. It will reveal a hole, and in the cave is the Magnifying Glass! Item Quote: "You've got the Magnifying Glass! This will reveal many things you couldn't see before!"