Who are the Souls of the Transformation Masks?

As you can probably tell from the title, this is another compilation of several smaller analyses. In fact, given that I’ve gone through all the main characters of Majora’s Mask that I could make full editorials on, the rest of the editorials in the series on Majora’s Mask characters will be compilations. In this editorial, I will be exploring the characters of the souls that inhabit the transformation masks. With four masks in total under this category, and two with mysterious origins, this is sure to be an intriguing read…

Deku Butler’s Son

Going in order from the earliest acquired mask to the latest, let’s start with the Deku Mask, which is said to possess the soul of the Deku Butler’s son. This is never actually confirmed, but it so strongly implied that we all just roll with it. So firstly, some background info: the Deku Butler is, as his name implies, a member of the Deku Royalty, in the position of the personal butler to the Deku King. Before the events of the game, the Deku Butler’s son and the Deku Butler are suggested to have a strong father-son relationship, racing each other through the Deku Shrine repeatedly to see who was the fastest.

However, after that, but still a ‘long time’ (the Deku Butler’s words) before the events of the game, the Deku Butler’s son left home for an unknown reason and never returned. Ignorant of the fate that has befallen his son, the Deku Butler worries for his son’s safety and wishes that he would at least write a letter to tell his father where he is. However, the Deku Butler is not the only one who is unknowing of his son’s fate.

When Link first made his way through the portal between Hyrule and Termina, after being reverted to a Deku Scrub by Skull Kid, Link and Tatl come across a warped tree with a sad expression apparently carved into the bark. They, too, are ignorant of the fact that this tree was once a young Deku boy, so far from home, who had his soul viciously torn from his body.

After Link defeats King Igos du Ikana and learns the Elegy of Emptiness so that he might make his way through the Stone Tower Temple, if Link plays the Elegy while in his Deku form, a replication of the Deku Butler’s son’s body is created by the magic song. Link, however, does not have time to linger over who’s soul may be inhabiting the Deku Mask, and carries on in his quest.

We would all have our theories by this point, but the confirmation-of-sorts, that the soul within the Deku Mask is that of the Deku Butler’s son, comes during the end credits, when we see the Deku Butler, shaking in fury, mourning the loss of his son, having come across his physical remains.

Now, that’s all pretty straight forward, but there is something that isn’t revealed: why did the Deku Butler’s son leave? Again, to those who have pondered this question, we all have our theories. Mine is this: the Majora’s Mask manga states that the Deku Butler’s Son and the Deku Princess were in love (or something like that, because, as I’ve said before, I haven’t read the manga myself, I’ve only read about it), and I liked this idea, and it formed the basis of my theory that something happened between the two of them, like a schism, and, not being able to remain in the presence of the Deku Princess, the Deku Butler’s son left, finding his way into the portal between Hyrule and Termina, and then being unfortunate enough to stumble upon Skull Kid, possessed by Majora’s Mask…

There are multiple other possibilities, so I’m not even going to start to list them, and I’ll simply ask you guys: what do you think of the idea of the Deku Butler’s son’s soul inhabiting the Deku Mask? Believe it, or not? If so, what do you think the Deku Butler’s son’s motives were for leaving? Let me know in the comments.

Darmani the Third

Darmani the Third was the greatest Goron hero of Termina, and potential heir to the Goron throne. However, when an unending winter engulfed the Snowhead region (not surprising, given its name), Darmani couldn’t stand the sight of his people suffering, and went by himself to Snowhead Temple, to find and destroy the cause of the winter.

Unfortunately, a blizzard (caused by a bewitched Biggoron) surrounded the temple, and a particularly strong gust sent Darmani plummeting to his death at the points of the jagged rocks in the valley below.

Since that time, Darmani, has lingered around the Goron Village, filled with regret that he could not save his people from their most devastating threat yet. Fortunately, Link soon comes along with the Lens of Truth.

Darmani then guides Link to his grave, and, knowing that Link could only see him with magic, begs Link to use his magic to bring him back to life, or, if he couldn’t do that, heal his sorrows in anyway Link could. Link then plays the Song of Healing, which causes Darmani to see a vision of his fellow Gorons cheering him on.

Darmani’s soul is then sealed within the Goron Mask, and Darmani’s last words echo from the inanimate object:

“I leave my undying feelings with you…”

Now, whenever Link dons the Goron Mask, he takes on Darmani’s physical form, and given Darmani’s last words, we can assume that, in Darmani’s form, Link also would’ve felt Darmani’s determination to save his people.

With that said, there’s nothing really mysterious to wonder about Darmani. The closest thing to that would be: is the scar that appears on Darmani, but not on Goron Link, a battle scar, or his mortal wound? Given that it doesn’t appear on Goron Link, a form in which Darmani has new life, the mortal wound is unnecessary, and therefore, I believe the later option, but let me know what you guys think in the comments.

Mikau

Mikau (which I always pronounced ‘McCow’, because punks might as well be cows: they both have funny patterns on them and produce methane) is the guitarist for the all-Zora band, the Ingigo-Go’s. Mikau was in a relationship with the band’s lead singer, Lulu; and the band was set to play at the upcoming Carnival of Time, when, an undisclosed amount of time beforehand, Lulu laid seven eggs, and lost her voice.

To make matters worse, Lulu’s eggs were soon stolen by Gerudo pirates. Keeping this a secret from the rest of the band, Evan, the leader of the band and also its pianist, charged Mikau with retrieving the eggs, though, I don’t think was necessary, given Mikau’s devotion to Lulu.

However, after Mikau made his way into the Gerudo Fortress, he was discovered, beaten to the brink of death, and then thrown out into the ocean. When Link finds Mikau floating not far from shore, Link pushes him to land, and Mikau manages to climb to his feet, and, summoning any and all energy he was using to stay alive, he rocks out, giving Link the lowdown in the form of a song.

At the end, Mikau asks for somebody to heal his soul, and, being the only person around, Link plays the Song of Healing. Mikau then has vision of being reunited with the band, before his soul is sealed within the Zora Mask.

The only mysterious thing about Mikau, is that he’s said to also be a Zoran hero, but, like Darmani, it is never stated as to how he became a hero, so, you guys can give me your theories in the comments.

Fierce Deity

Surely you must have seen this coming. The Fierce Deity’s Mask is the final transformation mask that Link collects, and the final mask overall. The only thing that is certain about the Fierce Deity is that you receive his mask from the Moon Child who is wearing Majora’s Mask. That’s it. The rest is a mystery, and this has led to many numerous theories surrounding the soul that is sealed with this mask.

There is speculation as to whether, like the other transformation masks, the mask contains a soul, or, like Majora’s Mask, the mask is the soul. Given the mask’s name, we can assume that the soul was once a deity, and with this is in mind, we could assume that the mask is the soul, because Majora’s Mask was the soul of a deity, whereas the other transformation masks contained the souls of normal people.

Now, assuming that the soul was once a deity, who worshipped it? There is a theory saying that the Dark Interlopers (who are theorized to be the ancient tribe that worshipped Majora) worshipped the Fierce Deity as a war god, similar to the Ancient Romans, and their war god, Mars. This would imply that the Fierce Deity and Majora were on the same level. And going back to the idea that Majora was a sun goddess, this would support the idea that the Fierce Deity, being Majora’s opposite, was the moon god, as it is suggested by the moon being represented on the breast plate of the Fierce Deity’s armour.

The theory that the Fierce Deity’s soul is sealed within the mask stems from a similar idea: that the Fierce Deity lead the ancient tribe in their war against the Golden Goddesses, and was punished by having his soul sealed within the mask.

And then there’s the theory that the Fierce Deity is Link’s Terminan counterpart, which is heavily supported by the fact that the Fierce Deity’s Mask, and Link in the form of the Fierce Deity, bear a strong resemblance to adult Link from Ocarina of Time.

None of these theories are mutually exclusive, and I prefer to believe in a mix of them, that the Fierce Deity is Link’s counterpart for Termina, and that he was once a moon god. And, given the mystery surrounding the character, and the potential for very many ideas, I’m not going to list any more theories, and you guys can tell me yours, and I can’t wait to hear them, given my fondness for the Fierce Deity.

And that brings us to the end of this editorial. In case you want to leave a comment, and can’t be bothered scrolling up to answer any questions I may have left, here are the general questions: what are your theories on the soul within the Deku Mask? What are your ideas about the scar on Darmani’s stomach? Why do you think Darmani and Mikau were heroes to their respective races? Who do you think the Fierce Deity is? Let me know in the comments, especially that last question.