Maku Tree

The Maku Tree is an important character in both plots of the two titles of the Oracle Series (Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons) and a guardian entity of the respective lands of Labrynna and Holodrum. Although the Maku Tree plays an identical roles in both games, various differences in character can be compared in its two appearances. This is mainly led by the fact that the Maku Tree appears as a female in Oracle of Ages and as a male in Oracle of Seasons.

Common Attributes
Although different in terms of personality, the Maku Tree's role in the plot in Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons is nearly identical. Guardian entities of their respective lands, the Maku Tree is one of the first characters Link meets in the game. Link, who seeks out the Maku Tree for advice when first arriving in Labrynna or Holodrum, finds the Maku Tree in a weakened state due the havoc wreaked by Veran/Onox. In order to defeat the villain, Link must restore the Maku Tree's power by gathering the eight Essences (Essences of Time for Ages, Essences of Nature for Seasons) scattered across the land. Throughout Link's quest, the Maku Tree offers Link helpful advice and information via telepathy; after each dungeon, he/she will point Link in the direction of the next essence. In both games, the Maku Tree is unable to sense the last essence and has Link find it on his own. By selecting the Maku Tree's square on the overworld map, Link can hear at any time the last words the Maku Tree said to him.

With each Essence, the Maku Tree will grow, at which point Link will even be able to enter the hollow of the Maku Tree, where the Hall of Secrets is located. Eventually, Link will be able to climb up into the higher boughs of the Maku Tree, eventually reaching its very top. In these boughs, Link will find useful things such as Gasha Seeds and Fairies, and even a Great Fairy. Once the eight essences have been gathered, the Maku Tree regains his/her powers and is able to produce a Huge Maku Seed, an item capable of dispelling the barrier surrounding the antagonist's lair.

In a Linked Game, where the extended plot has Twinrova about to sacrifice Princess Zelda to resurrect Ganon, the Oracles, once both have been freed, create a portal next to the Maku Tree allowing Link to access the Room of Rites. After the battle with Ganon, the Maku Tree is able to rescue Link and Zelda by teleporting them out of the crumbling Room of Rites just as it collapses.

When Link goes to meet the Maku Tree for the first time, he will find the way to the Maku Tree's grove barred by a closed gate. In Oracle of Ages, Link must use a detour through Maku Road to reach the tree. In Oracle of Seasons, the gate can only be opened by "one show shows courage". This is done by obtaining the Wooden Sword from the Hero's Cave and holding it up before the gate.

Characteristics
The female Maku Tree seen in Oracle of Ages is bright and cheery. She is distinguished from her male counterpart by her rosy cheeks, the flower in her "hair" (in fact leaves), and her generally womanly features and expressions. In the past, the Maku Tree is a mere sapling. Due to certain events in the game, the Maku Tree becomes emotionally attached to Link to the point of proposing marriage. Her proposal remains unanswered throughout the game.

Biography
After witnessing the capturing of Nayru, the Oracle of Ages, by the evil Veran, Impa sends Link to see the Maku Tree to seek for help. Almost as soon as she and Link meet, a small group of Veran's forces attack the Maku Tree in the past, making her vanish in the present. By travelling to the past, Link is able to save the Maku Tree, then only the Maku Sprout, from death. The Maku Tree admires Link's brave rescue, repeating that she will repay him "when she grows up". Just before returning to the present, the Maku Tree blurts out that she will be his bride.

Upon returning to the present, Link finds the Maku Tree has lost most of her memory due to the disruption of the flow of time. Despite this, she is still able to remember Link's rescue centuries ago. However, she seems to have confused the vow she made to marry Link as being Link's own words. The Maku Tree is dismayed upon realizing that Link has not come back for her love. Fortunately, she is able to focus on the more important task at hand, telling Link that in order to defeat Veran, Link must help restore the Maku Tree's memory by collecting the eight Essences of Time scattered across Labrynna.

The Maku Tree then directs Link to the Yoll Graveyard, the location of the first Essence of Time, giving him the Seed Satchel and Ember Seeds needed to access it. The Maku Tree will then go on to point Link in the direction of the next essence after every dungeon, except for the final essence, the Falling Star, which she cannot sense. She also informs Link when Queen Ambi leaves her palace, allowing him to rescue Nayru from Veran's clutches.

After Link gathers all the Essences and restores the Maku Tree's memory, she gives Link a Huge Maku Seed, which allows him to penetrate the evil forces surrounding the Black Tower.

Characteristics
Compared to his female counterpart, the male Maku Tree of Oracle of Seasons is more of the character of the wise old mentor, somewhat like the Deku Tree. The Maku Tree is robbed of his strength by the destruction caused to the seasons of Holodrum. Constantly sleepy, the Maku Tree must be woken by popping his trademark nose bubble with the swing of a Sword, should Link wish to speak to him. Doing so jolts the Maku Tree into waking, although he will fall back into his slumber as soon as the conversation is over. One would be led to believe that the reason for the male Maku Tree's lack of energy and constant need for slumber is the absence of the Essences of Nature. However, even once all the essences are gathered and Onox is defeated, the Maku Tree still sleeps indefinitely.

Biography
After regaining consciousness following the events of Din's capture by Onox, Link finds Impa standing over him. Impa sends Link to the Maku Tree to seek help. The Maku Tree, who had slept through the events of Din's capture and the destruction of the Temple of Seasons, finds his body has withered and his might drained by the chaos wreaked upon the four seasons, which has robbed the land of the very essence of nature. In order to restore his might to help defeat Onox, the Maku Tree sends Link to gather the eight Essences of Nature scattered across Holodrum.



The Maku Tree sends link in the direction of Gnarled Root Dungeon, the location of the first essence. After each dungeon, the Maku Tree guides Link in the direction of the next essence, with the exception of the final essence, the Changing Seasons. This may be because the dungeon in which it is located (Sword & Shield Maze) is not actually in Holodrum, but in Subrosia. The Maku Tree also helps Link discover the Temple of Seasons where the Rod of Seasons is located.

Once all eight Essences of Nature, the Maku Tree regains his former strength. He then provides Link with the Huge Maku Seed, which allows the young hero to confront Onox and save Din.

Trivia

 * The Maku Tree and the important seed it produces are referred to in the Japanese titles of both Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, which translate as "The Legend of Zelda: Nut of the Mysterious Tree: Chapter of Space-Time/Earth".
 * In the closing sequences of a linked Oracle of Ages when Princess Zelda kisses Link, the Maku Tree frowns worriedly.