Link and Tatl found themselves standing in Clock Town. The moon was much, much higher in the sky than it was before. Link had gone backwards through time.
"What just happened? We've gone back in time… but we have your precious thing! That ocarina is the key to returning you to normal! Link, we have to see that creep again!" Tatl said. Link was jaded to time travel, and simply went back to visit the Happy Mask Salesman. He did not, however, find him creepy enough to call him creep, an admonishment he was unable to deliver.
"You were able to recover your precious item? I knew you could, I knew you could!" the Mask Salesman said, shaking Link in sheer gratitude. Before Link could try to sign a comment, the Salesman had pulled out his instrument of choice, a pipe organ.
"Please play the song I am about to, and remember it well," he instructed.
XYRXYR
Link mimicked the song. It was a very sombre tune, that struck deep within his soul. His vision swam, and when he returned, he felt taller. At his feet was a mask depicting a Deku Scrub. He noticed he was back in his human form, and for that he was grateful. Thankfully, he still had his inventory. Simply being human again was satisfying enough, though, so he didn't marvel on it too much.
"This is the Song of Healing, a melody that heals evil magic and troubled spirits, converting their despair into masks. I am sure it will come in handy in future. The Deku Mask before you… I offer it as a gift. Wear it, and you will resume the shape of a Deku. I assure you, however, the effects are quite temporary, and will fade with the removal of the mask.
"Now that my side of the bargain has been made… please assume your own side," the Salesman said, holding out his hand. Link looked down in shame. While he was able to wrest away the Ocarina, the mask remained in Skull Kid's clutches.
"Don't tell me… My mask… you did get it back, didn't you?" the Salesman asked. Link shook his head. Never before, in all of his life, had he felt as ashamed as he did now. The Angry Mask Salesman blew a fuse, to put it bluntly.
"I need that mask back! If it doesn't come back to me, something terrible will happen! The mask is called Majora's Mask. It is an accursed item that is said to have played a role in an ancient tribe's hexing rituals. It is said that an evil and wicked power is bestowed upon the one who wears that mask. According to legend… the troubles caused by Majora's Mask were so great… ancient ones sealed the mask in shadow, to prevent its misuse. But no one knows that mask's true power… I went to great lengths to get that legendary mask. When my hands touched it, I could sense a dark omen. It's the feeling that makes your hair stand on end. And now, that imp has it," the Angry Mask Salesman said.
"I am begging you! You must get back that mask before something horrible occurs! I am begging you! Do it!" the Mask Salesman said, in a very desperate mood.
I promise you that I will return Majora's Mask to your hands as soon as I am able. Trust me, I can rewind time now, Link thought, trying to sign this.
"You will? Thank heavens!" the now Happy Mask Salesman said. He could understand Link's hands, thankfully. Link bowed, and began his new quest.
According to Tatl, the swamp, mountain, ocean and canyon Tael mentioned referred to four areas in each of the four cardinal directions: Southern Swamp, Snowhead, Great Bay, and Ikana Canyon. Link resolved to head south first. He travelled through the swamp, using his Deku form to hop across the poisonous swamp. Using this technique, he was able to reach the Deku Palace. In front of it were two Deku guards.
"This is the palace of the Deku Kingdom. Only those on official business may enter. However, today, I will make an exception. You may enter to see the ex… public humiliation of the foolish monkey who angered the great Deku King. Follow this hall straight to the Royal Chamber. Do NOT enter any other areas WHATSOEVER!" the guard Deku Link prompted told him. Link nodded, and entered the Deku Palace, to see what the monkey did. He met the Deku King.
"Greetings, visitor! I haven't seen your face before! Are you visiting‽ Usually, I don't allow foreigners in my Royal Chamber, but today is different! We're about to punish the foolish monkey who kidnapped my daughter! He has insulted the Royal Family! I'll show him what happens when you do that! That foolish monkey is up in that cage! Take a good look at his face! For it will be your last opportunity!" the Deku King said in a very large voice. He wasn't shouting, but it was close to.
I sympathise with you, buddy. But if you have the kidnapper under arrest, shouldn't you be able to get your daughter back? Something doesn't add up.
Link circled around the Deku Palace, and found a way inside the monkey's cage. Using the old Hookshot to get there, he looked at the monkey curiously.
"How did you get in here? …Ah, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you're here. Don't try to free me… you'll just incur more of the Deku King's wrath. What I need you to do is prove my innocence: get to Woodfall Temple, and find the princess they stubbornly believe I kidnapped!" the monkey said, instantly explaining the story to Link. Link nodded gratefully.
"But how does he get there?" Tatl asked. The monkey touched his foot to the corner of his mouth in thought.
"Do you have a loud instrument?" the monkey asked. Link nodded, and transformed into a Deku Scrub. He pulled out the Deku Scrub's Pipes of Awakening, and looked at the monkey.
"I've never seen a human do that before. …Eh, it looks like it works. Me and the princess tried to go to Woodfall Temple before, to try and stem the poison in the swamp, but the princess was captured by monsters. The Deku King won't listen to a word I say, so please… go to Woodfall Temple, and play this song to enter the Temple to find the princess," the monkey said. He began to make a series of notes, which Link played.
AXAX LY-L
"Everybody, did you hear that‽" The Deku King asked.
"Oh, snap, should've thought of that…" the monkey said to himself, his head hung.
"This melody, which only the Deku Royal Family knows… it proves the foolish monkey deceived the princess so he could enter the temple! Everyone! Let the monkey's punishment COMMENCE!" he boomed. Before Tatl could interject, Deku Link was thrown from the palace.
Link walked around to Woodfall Temple using a very nice path marked by previous, probably Deku, travellers. Here, he found a pedestal inscribed with the shape of a Deku Scrub. He stood on it, and played the needed song.
AXAX LY-L
A massive temple emerged from the poisonous water, and a path opened up, suggesting that Link enter. Link walked into Woodfall Temple, wondering what he would find.
Woodfall Temple was relatively easy. Although some of the labyrinthine corridors would appear confusing, Link was more than familiar with this sadistic map, and the dungeon posed no threat to him. Link wandered through some corridors only in search of a tool. He was used to there being some helpful tool in each temple, and to be honest, he was much more okay with looting the Terminians than the Hylians. The loot item?
A bow?
Woodfall Temple was home to a bow. From experience, he had low hopes for being able to fire one. Sure, he joined the soldiers of Hyrule Castle for archery practice, but he never really felt comfortable shooting. He held up his bow for practice, and aimed it at a wall inscription. He fired, and managed to hit the inscription he aimed at.
"Wow! Not everyone can shoot a bow first try!" Tatl said, in awe of Link's archery. Link shook his head. He might be able to get away with firing a bow. He wasn't sure.
Link stepped into the room that looked most like the room housing the dungeon boss. Luckily, his hypothesis on bosses was correct: there was indeed a boss lurking inside Woodfall Temple, who would be the likely cause of the toxic waters in the Southern Swamp. The boss was a massive hominid creature with intricate forest markings all over its body that descended from the ceiling. Link had little time to take in its bizarre appearance before he noticed a more practical worry: a massive sword longer than Link's own adult form was tall, and a kite shield of about the same size.
Masked Jungle Warrior: ODOLWA!
Odolwa began a menacing, shrieking chant. Link circled his foe, confident that arrows were the solution to his troubles. He drew his bow, and carefully aimed at Odolwa. Odolwa rushed with his sword, and Link hastily fired. The arrow grazed Odolwa's shield, completely and utterly ineffectual.
"What happened, Link? You were such a crack shot!" Tatl cried out. Link glared at Odolwa, realising his problem. He could fire a bow, but not when fighting enemies. He would have to rely on a different tactic. He pulled out his Kokiri Sword, which looked no less useless than it did in the Spirit Temple, and slashed at Odolwa's legs. He hacked at them while Odolwa was stunned. Odolwa looked about, trying to find Link, but stabbing at something as small as Link was a challenge with his massive sword. He simply swept at the floor with the blade, sending Link withdrawing. Link faced Odolwa again, trying to consider an alternate strategy. He whipped out a bomb, and threw it at Odolwa. Odolwa was knocked down, allowing Link to hack away again. This round, however, was successful, defeating Odolwa. Odolwa withered away, leaving behind only his wooden mask.
Link found himself in a confounding place. It quickly became apparent that this was a counterpart to the Chamber of the Sages in Hyrule. Link looked around for whoever the 'sage' was. His best bet was a far-away creature opposite him, surrounded and silhouetted by clouds.
"What's that?" Tatl asked. Link had no idea. The creature made a mournful sound.
"It seems to be saying something! It's almost like… a melody…" Tatl said. Link pulled out his ocarina, and listened to the tune.
Y-RLRYA
"Call us. That's what it's saying!" Tatl cried out. The giant's lair faded, returning Link and Tatl to Woodfall.
Clearing Woodfall had purified the water in Southern Swamp. Link appeared in front of a small cavern within Woodfall, where he heard a small sound. He turned, and managed to find where the Deku Princess was located.
"Who… Who are you?" she asked. "You don't look like a Deku…" Link nodded, and quickly put on his Deku Mask, assuming a shape the princess would be more comfortable with.
"Um… pleased to meet you. I am the Deku Princess. Where you called upon to save me?" the princess asked. Link nodded.
"Thank goodness! I thought my father would have been blinded by rage, and tried to execute the poor monkey who helped me get this far, that monkey who managed to escape with my whereabouts. But no, he heeded its advice and sent a rescue party!" the Deku Princess said.
"Um… about that…" Tatl said. The Deku Princess turned to the fairy.
"Don't tell me…"
"How about that‽ Hot, isn't it‽ The monkey shall suffer and suffer 'til he can suffer no more, and then some! You shall know the wrath of a king whose darling princess was taken away from him! Suffer! I shall prolong his suffering! Foolish monkey!" the Deku King shouted within the palace. The monkey was dangling above a pot of scalding water, periodically being dipped within it, drawing screeches of an immense pitch. Link and the Deku Princess stepped into the room, silencing the entire room.
"Oh, my princess! My darling princess! Are you all right‽ I was so worried!" the Deku King exclaimed.
"FOOLISH FATHER!" the Deku Princess shouted, charging at her father, and slamming him into a wall repeatedly. She turned to face the Deku guards, who quivered in fear.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING‽ Let that monkey go THIS INSTANT!" the princess yelled again.
"Ma'am, yes Ma'am!" the guards said, disassembling the punishment trap within seconds. Link nodded with satisfaction, leaving the Deku Palace behind. To be perfectly honest, he wasn't particularly fond of the idea of lingering.
