The two marked islands are Headstone Island and Gale Isle. However, those two islands have obstacles that need items from Fire Mountain and Ice Ring Isle to overcome, and those in turn require items from the Mother and Child Isles – specifically, the Mother Isle, which itself can only be accessed by warping. When Link warps to the Mother Isle, he’s greeted by the queen of the fairy world, who looks like a young girl with… well, the design makes it look like she’s got big holes where her eyes are supposed to be. It’s a very creepy effect. She smashes a puppet great fairy she’s holding, which causes two fairies to appear who fly into Link’s chest, giving him the power to shoot fire and ice arrows. Then she says Link’s “just [her] type,” which causes the King of Red Lions to turn to look at him as he looks away, blushing and smiling. The fairy laughs as she disappears.
Fire Mountain is the first stop, and Link uses an ice arrow to freeze the volcano. From the moment he does that, he’s got five minutes to get inside and get the item. The first obstacle is climbing the mountain while hounded by Kargarocs. Inside the mountain there’s lava platforming, Fire Keese, and two Magtails. Once all the enemies are defeated, a treasure chest appears with the power bracelets, which let him lift giant rocks like the one on Headstone Island, or the one blocking the easy way back to the exit.
Next is Ice Ring Isle. Again, once Link shoots it with the fire arrow, he’s got five minutes to get what he needs done. And once again, the first step is working the way to the cave entrance, which requires platforming and walking over icy surfaces with no traction. Inside is more ice platforming, along with an ice slide that reminds me of Lego Star Wars’ Echo Base level. The treasure here is iron boots, which have mercifully been made into a standard inventory item. They let Link walk on ice without slipping, and into gusts of wind, like the one blowing from a side area of the cave. That cave has a hole with a secret cave, filled with various enemies frozen in ice. Also, there’s a treasure map on the island.
There’s more Great Sea adventuring to do:
- The map Link got on Ice Ring Isle leads to a sunken chest with 200 rupees.
- Now that Link has the hammer, he can visit the two Great Fairies on the two remaining fairy islands. They upgrade his quiver from 30 to 60 and then 99 arrows, again the largest capacity any Link has ever had (not counting the NES game, where he didn’t have a quiver and instead turned rupees into arrows).
- Each of the six eye reefs has sprouted cannons and patrolling warships. When all at a location is destroyed, a treasure chest appears on one of the eyes that Link needs to glide to. Each contains a treasure map, each leading to a special map. They’re all checklist maps like the platform map he got earlier; and I’ve completed a couple of them (Big Octos and Great Fairies) already.
- On Windfall Island, Link can light the lighthouse then gain a couple heart pieces. The first comes from talking to Kreeb; the second from a treasure chest that appears on a nearby island Link has to glide to.
- Mila’s father gave his fortune to the pirates as reward for saving Mila, who’s now working for Zunari and intends to rob him. Link puts a stop to that, which makes her see the error of her ways and give him a bottle. (If she hears but doesn’t see Link as he’s following her during her robbery attempt, Link meows to throw her off. It’s funny and cute.)
- As for Maggie’s father, a Moblin gave Maggie a bunch of skull necklaces that he sold to make a fortune and then moved into Mila’s father’s old house. Link can give him more necklaces for a treasure chart that leads to a heart piece, and he apparently doesn’t care if Link smashes the vases. As for Maggie, she fell for the Moblin, and is trying to send him a letter, but her father’s blocking her, to the extent of not allowing postmen to deliver anything. He doesn’t come off very well, but… well, Maggie’s lovestruck. When Link helps her by mailing her letter and delivering the reply, she mistakes the Moblin’s desire to eat her for something romantic and gives link another piece of heart.
- On Outset Island, Abe and Rose are down to only one pig, but that one’s turned giant. With the power bracelets, Link can lift the giant pig and take it to the black dirt; after Link spreads bait around, the pig digs up a piece of heart.
- On Shark Island, there are four switches; if Link can manipulate them fast enough, he opens a secret cave. Inside is a giant fscking horde of enemies: Miniblins, Bokoblins, Moblins, Wizzrobes, and Darknuts. Clearing the horde awards 200 rupees.
- Tingle sends Link a map to all the Triforce maps (for 200 rupees, cash on delivery). One of them’s on the ghost ship, so that’s its purpose.
- Link unlocked Beedle’s silver membership, and Beedle sent Link a Complimentary ID. So, the next time Link visits Beedle, he shows him the ID, and Beedle compliments him. It's beautiful.
