The direction that seemed the most helpful to go next was north, to the mountains of Snowhead. While the Southern Swamp was teeming with life, the Mountain Village… was not. An unseasonal cold snap had buried the surroundings under a cold sheet of ice and snow. Trudging through the snow was tough going, but Link could manage it. During the storm, his Lens of Truth slipped out of his pocket, and Link hurriedly clutched at it. He got the bright idea to put it on, to see what he could see.

Watch where you are going! a ghostly voice said. Link had equipped the Lens of Truth inside a ghost of a Goron. Link stepped back, and made an apologetic gesture.

Wait… you can see me? If you are able to see me, then follow me to a place of importance to me, the ghost said, drifting away. Link hastily followed him, the snow not making it easy.

The ghost entered a small cave. Link came up to it, and saw a Goron standing outside it. He had a partner who was completely frozen.

"This is the grave where a Goron hero rests…" the unfrozen Goron said. Link began to piece two and two together, realising whom he had been following. Link entered the cave, and came up to the ghost.

You can see me… that is good. I had hoped for one who could see me for a long time for me. I am Darmani the Third. The blood of proud Goron heroes used to run within me. When I was alive, I was similarly a hero. Yes… when I was alive. Alas, I am now dead. I marched on to the Snowhead Temple, hoping to drive off the demon plaguing our village. There was a narrow bridge, and a blizzard knocked me from it… when I woke up, I was in here, watching as two Gorons erected a tombstone in my honour.

I can only watch as Goron Village is slowly buried in ice, doomed. I may have died, but I am not at peace. I think I preferred dying. Your ability to see me tells me that you have some knowledge of sorcery. I beg you! Resurrect me, so that I may save my people from eternity in ice! I understand if this is too difficult, so if you are unable to do so, instead do this: Heal my sorrows. Any way you are able… heal my sorrows! the ghost explained. Link wiped away a tear from his cheek. He had always hoped that his death would be similar to that of Darmani's. But his words had convinced him otherwise. He made gestures with his hands. Whether it be talent in life or an effect of death, Darmani understood his gestures.

That would be acceptable. Please do it, Darmani said.

XYRXYR

What a soothing melody… my sorrows are melting away into the song…

A proud Goron hero stood before his people. The Gorons cheered his efforts. Darmani shed tears of joy at the praise of his people.

A mask fell at Link's feet. This mask depicted the face of a Goron.

I leave my undying feelings with you. Instinct shall guide your hand as you bear my mask. Please do what I was unable, and save the people of Snowhead. Darmani said. Link smiled. It was with both great pride and great reluctance that he accepted the Goron Mask. He put it on, feeling his body expand as he assumed the shape of a green-clad Darmani. His old Megaton Hammer found its way into his hand, with the insignia of the Fire Medallion on its smashing side.

Link stepped outside, and found the two Gorons he had met before entering.

"You're… Darmani?" the Goron asked, speechless. Link made some gestures with his hands that confused the Goron.

"Can't… you can't speak, can you?" the Goron asked. Link was now genuinely curious.

"Darmani… talk… Goron…" he squeaked out. His voice was similar to the ghost Darmani's. Could he speak with his mask transformations?

"…Eh, I thought you were dead. This is a terrific start. But… whose grave was it that I was making?" the Goron asked. Link smiled at the admiration of the Gorons, and stepped towards his frozen brother. He looked at the Megaton Hammer, and tapped it on the ice. The hammer glowed a red colour, and the ice melted.

"Huh? Where am I?" the second Goron asked.

"We were building a grave when you were frozen, brother. Darmani saved you with a mighty hammer of fire!" the first told him.

"Darmani? Has your brain frozen? Can you believe this guy? Darmani is dead!" the second said. He gasped. He had made his second comment to Link, who looked like Darmani.

"DARMANI‽" the second asked.

"I was shocked, too. But apparently, Darmani has yet to perish, and is still ready to fight! A star of hope has shone upon us! Darmani! Save our village!" the first said.

"Darmani save village, Goron. Darmani also learn speak," Link said. He became a little homesick, as he thought about how Malon would react if she discovered Link could talk.

Link walked along the mountain path, and entered the Goron Village. He found the Goron Shrine, which is where he most expected to find the leader of the Gorons. He wanted to show the Goron people that Darmani had returned. What he instead found was…

*WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!*

The loud sound of a Goron baby's crying echoed around the chamber. Link scurried around to where the Goron baby was, to see him in what appeared to be the elder's chair. Every Goron was covering their ears.

"DADDY! DADDY!" the Goron added. No longer to tolerate the incessant wailing, Link left the shrine to search for the Goron's father.

The Goron Elder, that baby's father, was frozen along the path between Darmani's grave and Goron Village. Link defrosted him, and the elder looked up blindly.

"Darmani? But you're dead! Am I hallucinating? Or have I joined you?" the elder asked.

"…Long story. Elder's baby crying. Elder's baby want dad. You are dad?" Link asked.

"…My son wants to see me? Alas, with my old bones, I do not think I will be able to survive this cold and see him… Darmani… be you ghost of figment of my imagination, I no longer care. By the same way you found my crying son, I wish for you to play for him this melody. It is the song I played for you when you were a child," the elder said. He pulled out a small drum, and began to play the song.

LYXLYXYL

Link rolled with swiftness to the side of the child Goron, and pulled out Darmani's own collection of bongos.

LYXLYXYL

The Goron child looked up, his tears beginning to stem. His eyes fell heavy, and he fell asleep at last. Mercy. He looked about, and found that every Goron not carrying a collection of drums had fallen asleep.

"Darmani put Gorons to sleep…" Link said to himself.

"And hopefully that will be useful. Maybe," Tatl said, putting Link on track.

Link ascended the mountain at long last, and found Snowhead Temple. Using the Lens of Truth, he was able to see the guardian of the dungeon: a large Goron. Link knew that he could lull the Goron to sleep using the lullaby he had been taught, and, with the Goron fast asleep, he was able to edge about into the temple.

This temple had several different fire and ice themed puzzles. Link was no stranger to either. The dungeon's piece of equipment was an upgrade to his arrows, allowing him the choice to set them alight. Link wasn't sure if it was more efficient than the Megaton Hammer, especially since he had trouble aiming with the flaming bow, but it was the equipment he was given, and it was the equipment he was going to need to use. At any rate, he solved the dungeon and reached the boss.

"Somebody already beat him?" Tatl asked. The boss was encased within ice. Link clambered up, but the mask he needed was frozen. He tapped it with his Megaton Hammer… defrosting it. Link panicked very slightly, as the monster roared.

Masked Mechanical Monster: GOHT!

Goht charged directly through Link, knocking him aside like a ninepin. Lin curled into a ball, and charged after him. Link remembered the Goron Roll technique from prior experience with Gorons, and as a magician, he was able to create spikes to increase his damage output. Rolled up as he was, he was easily able to catch up to Goht. He hit a ramp, launched into the air, and landed on Goht's back. While he was stunned, Link hurriedly attacked with the Megaton Hammer. Goht got up, and Link curled into a ball to repeat the process. He jumped onto Goht's back again, and hit a weak spot. Goht began to malfunction, the blows driving him a tad insane. He crashed directly into a wall, becoming crushed under rubble. All that remained was his mask.

Link found himself with the giant's chamber again.

"What exactly are you?" Tatl asked. The creature let out its mournful roar.

"Guardians? So, you're protective gods…" Tatl gleaned. However, this is all she learned from this giant.

Spring had returned to the mountains of Snowhead. All of the ice began to wither away, as the spring thaw had descended upon the village. The Gorons peeked out from their homes, and began to celebrate.

"Doesn't being a good person make you feel all warm inside? I could get used to this," Tatl said. Link had turned back into a human after the Goht fight, so couldn't respond. He decided to quietly leave Snowhead, and not overuse his appearance as Darmani. If the Gorons managed to think that he was actually Darmani, there might be issues.

The moon was particularly close, as it was the third day of Termina. Link crossed to the Great Bay to the west, only to find it blocked by a fence. Link remembered that he could ride Epona over fences… only to remember that Skull Kid got rid of it.

"You could probably jump over this with a horse…" Tatl said insensitively. Link looked up at Tatl, annoyed. She, of all people, should remember that she had stolen his horse.

"Oh. We did not kill your horse. We just let it run off. She'll probably go to someplace familiar," Tatl said. Link nodded. He slipped on his Goron Mask, and made some words.

"Is there ranch in Termina?" Link quickly asked.

"Ranch? Oh, you want Romani Ranch. It's right next to the Southern Swamp."

Following the path Tatl suggested led Link to Romani Ranch. He found his horse almost immediately, and a responding whinny told Link that she knew him as well. Only problem was that she was being held behind in a pen by the ranchers. Link looked around, and found only one rancher, a small girl. She looked immensely familiar to Link.

"Link? Are you all right?" Tatl asked. Link wandered up to the girl. The girl looked up in confusion.

"Who… who are you again?" she asked. She was the splitting image of Malon, way back when he first met her.

Did she really… did she follow me to Termina? What did Skull Kid do to her? Link thought. The barn door opened suddenly, and another rancher came from the barn. She looked like Malon would in a few years, when Link saved Hyrule.

Two of her? This… what?

"Who are you? What are you doing with my sister?" the older rancher asked. Link made some excited gestures upon seeing his girlfriend.

"Malon? Never heard the name. I am Cremia, and this is my sister Romani. Who are you?" Cremia asked, still somewhat wary. Link made some signs, not quite convinced that Cremia and Romani were not Malon. Why would two random strangers understand his gestures?

"Link, is it? Well, right now, I've been having some issues. Cows have gone missing, Romani's in dire straits… can you come back lat…" Cremia told him, before gazing up at the moon.

"Nothing but a miracle's going to make this final day worth calling my last…" she mused to herself. Link pulled out his Ocarina on the spot.

YL-RYL-R

Link found himself in a field of white. Clock-like symbols appeared around him, rigidly spinning anti-clockwise. There was only one way to interpret this.

More time travel.