Stepping out of the Temple of Time, it’s plain that since Ganon got the Triforce, the seven years since have not been kind to Hyrule. For one thing, Hyrule Castle is gone, and in its place, a giant fortress is suspended over a bed of lava. The marketplace, once so full of life, is now only occupied by ReDeads [1]. In the guardhouse that used to be a reliable place to fill up on rupees is a man who collects defeated poes and keeps them in a cage. This man is seriously unsettling, enjoying what Ganon’s turned the world into and hoping things get even worse. Oh, and he makes a really skeevy comment about Link’s looks and running a different kind of business. Right, then. Back away slowly, keeping an eye on the creepy guy.
Hyrule Field is both better and worse than in Link’s childhood. On the bright side, there are no more peahats, and the skeleton apocalypse no longer happens at night. On the other hand, there are now poes all over the place. And the sign pointing at Lon Lon Ranch now calls it “The Great Ingo’s Ingo Ranch.” That’s not right, so we’ll make it Link’s next destination.
Horsin’ Around
Talon’s nowhere to be found, and Malon’s working in the stable. She says Ingo’s trying to gain Ganon’s favor, Talon was kicked out, and she’s staying because she’s afraid of what Ingo will do to the horses without her to mind them. Ingo’s in the central corral, and lets Link ride a horse, ten rupees for a minute’s ride. It’s long enough to use Epona’s song to summon Epona and get up and get familiar with the controls. The second time, after calling Epona, Link goes to talk to Ingo, who challenges him to a race. Ingo cheats by jumping the gun, but Link’s able to overtake him and win the race. Ingo immediately challenges Link to a rematch, saying he can keep the horse if he wins. He works harder to keep Link from passing, but it doesn’t work. Ever the graceful loser, Ingo lets Link keep the horse – whom he’d been planning to give to Ganon as a present – but locks the gates to the ranch. Because it’s not like Link has spent the last few minutes learning to ride, including jumping fences.
When Link returns to the ranch, Malon’s back in her rightful place and Ingo’s just happy to still have a job. Malon remembers Link from earlier, and challenges him to beat her record on an obstacle course. I only tried once and failed miserably, but by the end I finally got the hang of the controls so maybe next time I’ll get it.
Kakariko Village
Kakariko Village doesn’t seem much changed over the years. The people who used to hang out in the Market have moved here instead, the carpenters finished their building and are gone, the cuccos aren’t there anymore, and something happened to the windmill to make the well go dry, but it’s not as drastic as the changes to the market or the giant ring of fire hanging over Death Mountain. There’s not much else here of interest, so once again, Link heads to the graveyard.
In the intervening seven years, Dampé has died. His diary promises a “stretching, shrinking keepsake” to someone who visits his grave. Next to his grave is one of the places where Link planted a magic bean seven years ago, and now there’s a flower elevator that will take Link to a heart piece! Inside the grave, Dampé challenges Link to keep up with him. If Link can make it through the final door before it closes, Dampé awards him the hookshot; since the boomerang is unavailable to adult Link (boo!), this will do. The passage ends at the Kakariko windmill, where Link can reach a heart piece. The man inside the windmill is furiously playing a catchy song on his organ, and blames the windmill’s current state on “that ocarina kid.” Well, I know enough time travel stories to know what’s up, so 1) apparently I’m not done with Link the kid yet [2], and 2) Link learns the Song of Storms from the organ player so he can use it in the past.
Link can go back to visit Dampé and run the course again, and if he can make it in under a minute – not an easy task – he gets another heart piece.
Next: Hooked on a feeling.
[1] I’d have left the happy dancing couple there, with them unaware of the wights surrounding them, and the wights looking at them, afraid to come any closer. But that element of farce would have completely undermined the horror of finding the marketplace like that, so I can understand why it wasn’t done.
[2] Another villager mentions a man who could “see the truth” whose house was where the well is. I’m guessing child Link turbocharged the windmill and drained the well to get whatever that man’s secret is [3].
[3] Or will do so eventually [4].
[4] I hate time travel linguistics.
