Woods of Mystery
The Woods of Mystery are a location in Majora's Mask.[1]
Features and Overview
The Woods of Mystery are a maze-like area found just beyond the Magic Hags' Potion Shop in the Southern Swamp. The Woods are bewitched so that anyone who loses their way finds themselves back at the entrance in the Southern Swamp. In order to navigate the Woods, Link must follow a predetermined path that changes each day.
A friendly Monkey can be found at the entrance, where it offers to guide Link through the Woods.[2] However, it does so in a winding and aimless manner, frequently heading toward false ends of the Woods before correcting its course.
The correct paths through the Woods of Mystery on each day are as follows:
- The path through the Woods
-
First Day
Left, right, right, straight, left, left -
Second Day
Right, left, straight, left, left, right -
Final Day
Straight, left, right, right, straight, right
If Link speaks to the witch Kotake at the Magic Hags' Potion Shop, she mentions that her sister, Koume, went into the Woods looking for Mushrooms and hasn't returned.[3] She asks him to help search for her in the Woods and advises him to follow the Monkeys inside to find his way.[4]
Each day, the Monkey at the entrance will lead Link to an injured Koume deep in the Woods.[5] Koume is flanked by two other Monkeys who flee when Link approaches. If Link speaks to her as a Human,[note 1] Koume explains that she was distracted while picking Mushrooms when she was attacked by the Skull Kid, rendering her immobile.[7] She asks Link to help her by giving something that gives "energy",[8] prompting Link to give her something from his Inventory.
Link can return to Kotake to explain her sister's plight.[9] Though she initially scoffs at the idea that the Skull Kid could pose any threat, she gives Link a Red Potion to help her sister.[10] If Link fails to rescue Koume before the start of the Second Day, Kotake will leave the Potion Shop and begin searching in the Woods of Mystery herself. She can be found calling to Koume from the northeast corner of the Woods on the Second Day, or from the northwest corner on the Final Day.[11] Both of these locations are adjacent to Koume's location on the previous day.
To help Koume, Link can give either a Red Potion or a Blue Potion to her, which she recognizes as Kotake's handiwork and promptly drinks.[12] This instantly heals Koume, allowing her to summon a Broom.[13] Before flying away, she mentions that she operates the Boat Cruise and offers to give Link a free ride as thanks.[14]
Three Signs can be found at the end of the Woods of Mystery which indicate the exits.[15] On the Second Day, a Secret Grotto containing a Treasure Chest will appear in the southeast corner of the Woods. It will also Rain for the duration of the Second Day. Magic Mushrooms can be found in each portion of the Woods that the injured Koume appears, regardless of which day it is.
If Link is standing inside the Woods at the dawn of the next day, he will find himself in the same portion during the next day's version of the Woods. Though this typically means Link must exit the Woods and re-enter to navigate it properly, it is possible to wait in the portion of the Woods where Koume will be the following day to find her. This also means that the Secret Grotto can be entered on the Final Day through this method, though Link will be unable to move to any other portion of the Woods without returning to the Southern Swamp. Kotake will also not appear in the Woods on the Second Day until Link watches her leave the Magic Hags' Potion Shop, but she will be present on the Final Day. Consequently, if Link is inside the Woods of Mystery on the Final Day, he will not be able to witness Kotake leaving the Potion Shop.
Animals
| Inside the Secret Grotto that appears in the Second Day |
Enemies
First Day
![Snapper ×3[a]](/wiki/File:MM3D_Snapper_Model.png)
Second Day
| Inside the Secret Grotto that appears in the Second Day |
Final Day
Inhabitants
![Kotake[a]](/wiki/File:MM3D_Kotake_Model.png)
![Koume[b]](/wiki/File:MM3D_Koume_Model.png)
- ↑ Only appears on the Second and Final Days if Koume has not yet been rescued.
- ↑ Will no longer appear after being rescued.
Treasure Chests
| Treasure Chest | |
|---|---|
| Contents | |
| Notes | Inside the Secret Grotto that appears in the Second Day |
| Treasure Chest | Contents | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Inside the Secret Grotto that appears in the Second Day |
Nomenclature
The Japanese name for the Woods of Mystery, 不思議の森Fushigi no Mori, is phonetically identical to the Japanese name for the Mysterious Woods from Link's Awakening, ふしぎのもりFushigi no Mori.
 Names in Other Regions  | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Names | Meanings |
 Japanese | 不思議の森 (Fushigi no Mori) (MMMajora's Mask)[17] | Same as English. |
 Italian | Bosco Arcano (MM3DMajora's Mask 3D)[16] | Arcane Woods |
| This table was generated from Zelda Wiki's translation data. | ||
Other Names
| Name | Lost Woods[18] |
|---|---|
| Applies to | |
| Source | |
| Superseded by |
| Name | Applies to | Source | Superseded by |
|---|---|---|---|
Lost Woods[18] |
Notes
- ↑ Koume will refuse to talk to Deku Link, Goron Link, and Zora Link, calling him a "weirdo" and pretending to be dead.[6]
References
- ↑
Woods of Mystery
— Sign (Majora's Mask 3D)
Beware of ferocious turtles. - ↑
Mmm... Follow me!
— Monkey (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
...Are you, by chance, a boat cruise customer? How unfortunate. Koume has gone into the woods out back, looking for mushrooms...
— Kotake (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
Hmm... Now that I think about it, she's a bit late coming back! Say, could you go find her for me? Hmm, yes. It's easy getting lost in those woods. Ask the monkeys that live in the forest for directions.
— Kotake (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
Ohh! Owow-ow! Help meeee!
— Koume (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
Ack! Now I've done it! I've gone and attracted some weirdo's attention! Umm...I'll just play dead.
— Koume (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
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? Oh, ow! To think he's that powerful...and now I can't even move!
— Koume (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
You! Don't you have anything that gives you energy?
— Koume (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
What's that?!? The Skull Kid got to Koume?!? That's ridiculous...
— Kotake (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
If it's just the Skull Kid, then what harm could he possibly do? Oh!! Well, if that's true, then take this potion to her... This isn't good...
— Kotake (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
Koume! Where are you?
— Kotake (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
Ah! That color! That smell... That's definitely Kotake's...
— Koume (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
Ooh! Feel the energy flow! Koume is revived!!!
— Koume (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
You saved me! I'm the swamp tour guide. I run the boat cruise, so come by if you want a free ride.
— Koume (Majora's Mask 3D) - ↑
End of the Woods of Mystery
— Sign (Majora's Mask 3D)
This way to the entrance. - ↑
Bosco Arcano
— Sign (Majora's Mask 3D, Italian version)
Attenzione alle tartarughe feroci! - ↑
不思議の森
— Game Screen (Majora's Mask, Japanese version) - ↑ The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask—Official Perfect Guide, Versus Books, pg. 23