Key Cavern

The Key Cavern is the third dungeon in Link's Awakening. When Link enters Ukuku Prairie and heads to where Richard's Villa is located, he will pass by the dungeon's entrance and its 'fence' of Slime Eyes statues, which also block the way to the entrance. Unlike the other two previous dungeons before it, this dungeon isn't set inside a cave, but more or less a bricked building. The dungeon's entrance is at first closed and requires the use of the Slime Key to open. South of the entrance is Richard's Villa, where Richard now resides ever since he had been kicked out of Kanalet Castle by some Darknuts. Richard has the Slime Key with him but will not let Link have it until Link fetches all five of Richard's Golden Leaves from the castle. After Link hands all of them to Richard, he will let Link into his villa's maze of bushes and hidden pits. Link would eventually make his way to an Owl Statue, where the Slime Key was buried in front of it. Link then had to use the key in one of the keyholes in the Slime Eyes statues to open the entrance. But to actually get to the entrance, Link would have to go around the villa and cross the lake using the Roc's Feather.

The main tool of this dungeon is the Pegasus Boots, which is necessary to break away blocks that cannot be bombed as well as used to aid Link in defeating the boss, Slime Eyes, who guards the third Instrument of the Siren, the Sea Lily's Bell.

When looked on a map, the first floor of this dungeon is in the shape of a very large key, while the second floor appears to be a smaller key. Likewise, the name of this dungeon is simply named after its shape. Despite its key shape and name, it is not key themed. This dungeon actually appears to be themed entirely on the boss Slime Eyes, as there are Slime Eyes statues outside and Zol tend to live here. There is also a pattern of eyes above the dungeon's entrance, as Slime Eyes only has one eye.