Chapter 4: Twinrova and the Deku Palace: Woodfall, Part 2

Author's Note: And so, Twinrova plays a big part in this chapter. Link will be quite disappointed to learn that the Swamp boat cruise is closed. In addition, time actually is realistic – it doesn't take an hour for 3 days to pass, it takes 72. Hence why only about 4 hours have passed.

MORNING OF THE FIRST DAY

68 Hours Remain

Southern Swamp, Termina

Link noticed a building as he and Tatl were walking through the woods.

"Hmm…I could use a rest," he said to himself.

He entered the building.

He noticed a sign by the window. "Old Koume's Boat Cruise. Ticket office closed. Please inquire at the Magic Hags' Potion Shop near the edge of the swamp," he read aloud.

"No…it can't be…Twinrova," Link shuddered.

He walked over to the desk with the Guide standing there. He was a burly man, tall and well-built.

"Hello," Link said.

"Blimey! Where is he? That spoiled child is off playin' hooky again! A child his age has no business searching for fairies...!" the man said to himself. "Oh! Ahem...Welcome! Huh? Is this your first time entering the pictograph contest? Well, the Swamp Tourist Center is currently holding a pictograph contest. It's open to all ages, from children to adults. For nice pictographs taken in the swamp, a free boat cruise will be awarded as a special prize. So, would you like to enter our contest? Oh, but to enter, you first must take the boat cruise. Boat cruise reservations are handled at that window over there. If you're interested, go for a ride."

"Umm...I don't have a pictograph box."

"Huh? Haven't you gotten a pictograph box yet? If you take the boat cruise, they'll give you one for sure. Go ask at that window. We're running the pictograph contest for a brief time only."

"She's not there," explained Link.

"She ain't? Blimey! You should probably go check the Magic Hags' Potion Shop further into the Swamp then. Her sister, Kotake, works there."

"Thanks for your help," said Link, and then he and Tatl left the Tourist Center.

They made their way south, and found themselves at the Potion Shop. Link climbed the ladder and went inside.

"Tee-hee-hee!...Welcome. My potions work very well, they do. My name is Kotake," said the old hag at the counter.

Link drew his sword and pointed it at her.

"You!" he exclaimed.

"Eeek! What are you doing?" Kotake panicked.

"You're one of the two leaders of the Gerudo tribe in Hyrule. You raised Ganondorf and caused so many terrible things to happen!" Link yelled.

"…I have no clue what you're talking about. You must be thinking of someone else…"

"What are the odds of there being another pair of twin Gerudo witches named Kotake and Koume?"

"…Hmm…You mentioned Hyrule? That explains it. You see, Hyrule and Termina are like mirrors. Most people in Hyrule have a counterpart here, but are unrelated. Whatever the Hryulean Kotake and Koume did, I had nothing to do with it. They sound like terrible people. All I do is run a potion shop…"

"Oh…I'm sorry for attacking you." Link placed his sword back in its sheath.

"No problem. You're clearly a Hylian. What brings you this far?"

"I'm trying to stop the Moon from falling. I'm the Hero of Time spoken of in legend."

"Hmm…but why did you come HERE, to my potion shop?"

"I need to find Koume."

"...Are you, by chance, a boat cruise customer?"

Link nodded.

"How unfortunate. Koume has gone into the woods out back, looking for mushrooms...Hmm...Now that I think about it, she's a bit late coming back! Say, could you go find her for me?"

"I'm not sure…I'll try my best."

"Hmm, yes. It's easy getting lost in those woods. Ask the monkeys that live there. Oh…but…in order to befriend these monkeys…you'll have to play a song…" Twinrova began to sing a song. Surprisingly, it was pleasant-sounding.

Link recognized it immediately…it was Saria's Song.

He copied it on his Ocarina.

He then headed outside and entered the woods behind the potion shop.

He played Saria's Song, and three monkeys walked up to him.

"Mmm...Follow me!" said one of them.

Link did so, and encountered Koume lying on the ground.

"Ohh! Owow-ow! Help meeee!" she cried.

"What happened?" questioned Tatl.

"I was just busy minding my own business, picking mushrooms, when... BAM! I got hit from behind! That pesky Skull Kid! Did he think an old hag wouldn't recognize him if he hid his face?"

"Probably," answered Link.

"Oh, ow! To think he's that powerful...and now I can't even move!" moaned Koume. "You! Don't you have anything that gives you energy?"

"Wait here. I'm going to see your sister. She might have something."

"Okay…I'll stay here in pain…" Koume moaned, as Link returned to the shop.

"Bad news, Kotake. Skull Kid got her," Link said to Kotake.

"What's that?! The Skull Kid got to Koume?! That's ridiculous... If it's just the Skull Kid, then what harm could he possibly do?" mocked Kotake.

"He knocked her down and immobilized her. She's injured out in the woods, and needs something to restore her energy."

"Oh! Well, if that's true, then take this potion to her... This isn't good...Quick! Take that potion to her!"

Kotake handed a Red Potion in a bottle to Link.

"You can keep that bottle, just make sure the potion gets to Koume!" she offered.

Link rushed back to Koume and gave her the potion.

"Ow-ow-yeow! Don't you feel obligated to help a sorry old hag when you see one? Ah! That color! That smell...That's definitely Kotake's..." She drank it, and got back on her broomstick in a poof. "Ooh! Feel the energy flow! Koume is revived! You saved me! I'm the swamp tour guide. I run the boat cruise, so come by if you want a free ride."

She took off, and Link made his way back to the Swamp Tourist Center.

"Oh! Thanks for what you did back there! In a special deal just for you, I'll let you take this cruise for free. Ah, yes, we've got a special going on right now, so we're giving this out for free!"

Koume handed him a Pictograph Box. Link nodded.

"Okay, so you're taking the cruise!"

They got on the boat.

"Welcome to the boat cruise. Please enjoy the swamp scenery to your heart's content," said Koume. They rammed two Big Octo and then finally arrived at the Deku Palace. "Now arriving at Deku Palace. The swamp water is poisonous here, so please watch your step."

Link departed from the boat with Navi.

He had to don the Deku Mask to enter the palace, and then made his way past the guards and wound up in a secret grotto.

The grotto was empty save for a man, one that Link remembered as being the Magic Bean Seller from the Zora's River back in Hyrule.

"Well...chomp, chomp...You're the first customer I've had in a looooong time! Do you need any Magic Beans? They sprout leaves as soon as you water them. That they do, they do. Mmm, I'll give you one free sample, so try planting it in some soft soil. You can always buy more," the seller said, handing him some beans.

It didn't take long to navigate past the Mad Scrubs and reach the inside of the Palace.

"Oh! You...How did you get here? Shhh! If they see you, they'll capture you!" said a monkey tied up at the pole.

"My brothers asked me to help you," answered Link.

"What? My brothers asked for your help? Ugh...I'm terribly sorry... Just try to cut my rope. We'll talk after that!"

Link attempted to cut the rope, but to no avail.

"Hmm...No good, after all! Wait...You don't happen to have something that can make a lot of noise...like a loud instrument with sound that carries a long way? If you have one, show it to me! Please! An instrument that can blare out a lot of sound that'll carry a long way!"

Link pulled out his Ocarina.

"That tiny thing will never do. Its sound won't carry far enough...Don't you have something else?"

Link donned the Deku Mask and pulled out his Pipes.

"Oh! You have them! You do! Just like the princess... the Deku Pipes of Awakening! Those will work great! By the way...who are you?"

Link paused.

"...Whoa! That's not important now... Just listen to me! I was trying to find out about the poison in the swamp, so I went to Woodfall Temple above the waterfall. But the temple had become a monster's lair, and the princess was captured by the monster... Since the Deku king thinks I kidnapped the princess, he won't listen to a word I say. Now the princess is in trouble, so I must somehow hurry to the temple and save her! Do you understand my plight?"

Link nodded.

"So then, that means...You will go in my place and save the princess! OK, now I'll teach you the melody that opens the temple. The princess taught it to me! We can't let them hear us, so I'll sing it softly..."

The Monkey sang a song.

"This song is the Sonata of Awakening. Do NOT forget it. You'd better take the shortcut the Deku people use to get to Woodfall Temple. But you must hurry! If you don't, I will be punished by the Deku king!"

The Deku King turned and noticed the two.

"Everyone, did you hear that? 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!" exclaimed the King.

Link was promptly kicked out.

"We have to help him…" said Tatl.

"I know…"

They made their way to Woodfall Temple, stopping by the Fairy's Fountain on their way.

"Kind young one! Please hear my plea! Please find the fairies trapped inside Woodfall Temple who match our color. Please bring them back to us!" informed the Great Fairy of Wisdom's split parts. "If you do…I will grant you increased magic and a few more gifts!"

"I'll try," responded Link, and then he and Tatl made their way to the top of Woodfall.

He transformed into a Deku and played the Sonata of Awakening.

Woodfall Temple rose from the depths, and Link cracked his knuckles.

"Ready, Tatl?" he asked.

Tatl nodded.