With light returned to the area, Link returns to human form, Midna returns to her shadowy form, and Eldin, the owllike light spirit, is restored. Eldin says the Gorons have the fused shadow in their sacred grounds, which have become defiled, so it’s up to Link to undefile them. But more importantly, Link is able to reunite with his friends. Renado introduces himself and his daughter, Luda, skipping over Barnes, who walks off in huff. The children talk about their ordeal, with no mention of what’s become of Ilia. Renado says that the village has seen hard times, too, and the Gorons have become isolationist. Renado suggests Link take the children and flee while he tries to make peace again with the Gorons. It sounds good, but Link needs the fused shadow from the Gorons, so he’s going to have to be the one to deal with them.
Link heads out to Death Mountain to try to climb and talk some sense into the Gorons, but the lookout sees him coming and bowls him over, knocking him off the cliff. As Link heads back into the village, defeated for now, Renado says that Link can’t get past them on his own, but might be able to seek help from someone who has befriended them in the past: Bo, the mayor of Ordon Village. Renado’s apparently changed his mind about the children: sending them home is too dangerous, so they should stay in Kakariko, but Link should at least tell the worried parents that their kids are alright.
The Kakariko Village theme is different in this game (it starts with the first few familiar notes, but then the real melody kicks in); along with the general layout of the village, it seems like something out of the Old West. (Or, you know, a movie depiction of the Old West.) As Link walks through the town center, Epona gallops into town with two Bulblins [1] desperately trying to hold on. Link jumps on her back and reins her in, which Midna notes should make the trip back to Ordon faster.
Not long after Link enters Hyrule Field, the Postman runs up to him with a letter from Ooccoo, saying they might meet again. On the journey through Hyrule Field, there’s a pair of golden insects (pill bugs) and a fifth heart piece to collect, finally completing another heart container for Link. At the Ordon Spring, Link finds the golden wolf, leading to another training session with the undead warrior. The warrior acknowledges Link’s progress, then tests his ability to do the Ending Blow, then moves on to the second skill: Shield Attack. This is a simple skill that lets Link find a hole in armored foes’ defense and deflect projectile attacks.
Bo calls to Link when he sees him, and notes how Link has changed since they last met. He invites Link into his house to talk. He’s pleased to hear that most of the kids are safe in Kakariko, trusting Renado to watch them until they can be brought home. Unlike everyone else, he remembers Ilia exists and asks about her; he’s disappointed to hear she’s not with the rest, but decides to focus on how he can help everyone. Link mentions the Gorons, and Bo agrees to tell Link his secret if he agrees not to tell anyone else. First, he gives Link a lesson in sumo. Then, because Gorons are strong and heavy and Link can’t match them in either, he reveals the secret that let him best the Gorons at sumo: Iron Boots. As Link leaves, Bo reminds him again: he can’t tell anyone. Especially Renado.
The others in the village are happy to hear that their children are okay, although I couldn’t find Rusl. Fado asks Link to help round up goats again, and this time’s just like the time before Link’s adventure started except that when he gets it done within the still overly generous time limit (seriously, I lost one of the goats and still finished with half the time remaining; this does not speak well to Fado’s skills as a goatherd), Fado gives him a heart piece. After everyone’s informed about the relatively good news about the village youths, Link heads back for Kakariko.
Next: Can’t Link leave the kids for two minutes?
[1] I keep wanting to call them “Bulbins”; that second L is kind of tricky. I suppose that’s why Molblins, as they were known in the NES days, are now and probably forevermore Moblins.
