Starting from where we left off at the entrance to Dark World Level 2. From here head north a few screens until you reach the bomb shop aka Link's House. Head West until you reach the town. Once there go to the library, and get next to the rock. If you have beaten Dark World Level 4 throw the rock out of the way. If you haven't yet use the Magic Mirror to warp to the Light World. When you arrive in the Light World go into the town. Once in the town go all the way to its north most houses, the mossy one and the double door house that are side by side. Head west to the four red bushes. Head north up the far left trail onto the next screen. Head north down this trail until you reach the woods. Once in the woods head east, and go south between the two trees. Head south down the trail until you reach a wooden fence. Hit the two pegs on the right most edge. Go south from here and throw the white rock next to the fence. Now, go through the portal into the Dark World. If you don't have the item from Level 4 yet go north until you reach a line of purple bushes slash all of them and head south back into the town. Head east until you reach a small green tree, and a small red tree with a corner on the stone path. Now, head north up the trail out the northeast corner of town. Head, north until you reach the fortune tellers house. Now head north past the house, and keep heading diagonally north and go up the path at the far end of the trees back into the forest via a different path. Head, north past the hole in the ground be careful around it though. Now, enter Level 3 through the skull.
Dark World Level 3:
Before you enter keep in mind sitting in a spot too long will cause the wall master to swoop down, and grab you. This is the first of the 3 main entrances all you can do is head right through the east door so do so. Go north and hit the star switches to make the chest accessible. Within the chest is the Dungeon Map. Now, head west though the west door. Now, that your back in the entrance room head south, and outside.
The hole to the south leads to a useless room with a key that opens a door back to the room west of the entrance room you just left avoid it.
*Optional*The hole to the west contains a key, and the compass. Go in if you want the compass. Heres the directions if your interested. You fall in go all the way south, avoid the fire string, and go east through the east door. In this room Open the chest in the middle of the room to get the compass. Go through the north door to get a key that opens up back into the entrance room. Go west to get a key that opens up into the room with the map, which opens up into the entrance room.
Go north around the skull, and slash the 9x9 flower bed and fall in the hole revealed.
From here remove a skull, go south hit the star switch ONCE, and bomb the cracked wall west of the ring of skulls. Now, go in the west door thats just been revealed. In here pull the switch to reveal the Big Chest. As of now we don't have the Big Key so we'll come back later when we do. Anyways walk up to the Big chest stand next to a hole, and use the hookshot to swing across the hole to a statue on either side of the entrance. Now, go back outside through the entrance.
This time go west past the purple 3x3 flowers, and go north through the bone cage tunnel. From here go south through the parallel bone cage tunnel next to the one you just went through. From here there is a skull entrance south of you, go inside.
You are now in the second of three parts of Dark World Level 3. To the north is the big key. First, kill all enemies in here as they are a huge pain. Move the statue to the right over the switch under the middle skull. This will open the north door. As you do this stop occasionally to avoid the Wall Master. Make sure you are to the north of the statue as you drag it so that you can reach the north door when it opens.
In this room kill any enemies if they get in your way. Avoid the moving spike, and the Wall Master as he swoops for you. In the middle of the room is the Big Key inside the chest grab it. To the right is the cracked wall, beyond it is a full magic container grab it if your low on magic otherwise leave it. Now, head south through the south door. In this second entrance room push the statue out of your way, and head outside through the south door.
We are back tracking for the Dungeon Item sitting in the Big Chest. Remember that? Head east, and travel through both bone cage tunnels. Slash the 3x3 purple bushes, to re-enter the first part of the level.
Move a skull out of the way, hit the hard creature with it, and hit the star switch ONCE. Now, head through the west door. Go south the the Big Chest, and open it to get the Fire Rod. Use your Hook Shot to reach a statue on either side of the First Entrance. Now, head back outside through the entrance.
Head west through both bone cage tunnels into the Second Skull Entrance.
In here head west through the west door. In the northwest corner under the skull is a key grab it, it might come in handy later. Now, head out the south door to arrive outside through the Third Skull Entrance.
Once outside you will notice a left bone cage tunnel, and a right bone cage tunnel. The left bone cage tunnel leads to the third, and final part of Dark World Level 3. The right bone cage tunnel is the wrong bone cage tunnel which leads nowhere so avoid it. Once through the Left bone cage tunnel use your Fire Rod on the tip of the huge Rocks freaky nose thing with legs. It will burn away, and the Fourth and Final Skull Entrance will be revealed.
You are in the last segment of Dark World Level 3 things get very easy from here. If you grabed the key at the entrance room of the Third Skull Entrance you can use it on the north door.
If you didn't get that key, climb down the stairs, and work your way north, and then go through the east door, go south then through the west door, grab the key from the chest. Go back into the huge room, and work your way north, and then west into the entrance room. Now, head south back to the entrance. Now, you can head north, and unlock the north door to reach the next room.
This room is tricky so follow my directions closely. Watch closely for the Wall Master above you.
Step on the star swith, and walk north. Move the skulls out of the way, and step on the star switch's directly north of the first swith's in front of the door you entered through. Walk onto the star switch next to the torch to the left of the south door. Head north to the Northwest torch. Move the skulls out of the way, and head east to the two sets of four star switch's. Hit the northern most one. Go north to the NorthEast torch, and hit it's star switch. From here go south through the east door. Kill all four Zombies, and remove the two skulls blocking one of the unlighted torches. Now, head south, and pull out your Fire Rod. Work your way north, and make sure to light all four torches on your way to the northeast door. If you do it will open, when it does walk through the open northeast door. In here slash the green vines in the middle of the north wall. Behind it is a small north door. Head through the north door. In here avoid the swooping Wall Master, and kill the Zombie for the small key to unlock the east door. Head through the open east door. remove a skull, avoid a spike, and jump into the hole to reach the boss.
Dark World Level 3 Boss: Mothula
Before i tell you a strategy make sure to avoid moving spikes, and beams that Mothula uses to hurt you. If you have magic use your Fire Rod on Mothula, and aim carefully you don't want to waste your magic. If you don't have any magic, or if you run out make sure to slash at Mothula with your Sword, or Sword Beam if you have full health. After hitting him for a short while he will die. Take the Heart Container he drops, and pat yourself on the back for beating one of the most annoying levels in A Link to the Past.
As special bonus heres the victory message:
(Your name), because of you, I can escape from the clutches of the evil monsters. Thank You! ...Do you know the prophecy of the Great Cataclysm? This is the way i heard it... If a person who has an evil heart gets the Triforce, a Hero is destined to appear... ...and he alone must face the person who began the Great Cataclysm. If the evil one destroys the Hero, nothing can save the world from his wicked reign. Only a person of the Knights Of Hyrule, who protected the rolalty of Hylia, can become the Hero... You are of their blood-line, aren't you? Then you must rescue Zelda without fail. Do you understand? Yes May the way of the Hero lead to the Triforce.
-End of Part X-