???

???

Artwork from Oracle of Ages

Gender	Majora's Mask Unknown Oracle of Ages Unknown Skyward Sword Female
Games	Majora's Mask Oracle of Ages Skyward Sword
Location	Majora's Mask Stock Pot Inn Oracle of Ages Toilet Skyward Sword Knight Academy

???, also known as Phoeni in the Prima Games Skyward Sword Strategy Guide, is a mysterious hand that first appeared in a minor sidequest in Majora's Mask, and has appeared in both Oracle of Ages and Skyward Sword since.

Origins

"In the original Legend of Zelda game, a gigantic hand appears and grabs you at the entrance to a dungeon. Actually, that has nothing to do with Skyward Sword. [Laughs] It's actually something from a Japanese ghost story. Not a specific ghost story. There are some ghost stories in Japan where — when you are sitting in the bathroom in the traditional style of the Japanese toilet — a hand is actually starting to grab you from beneath. It's a very scary story."

— Shigeru Miyamoto

Appearances

Majora's Mask

??? made its first appearance in Majora's Mask. It can be found inside the toilet of the Stock Pot Inn in Clock Town. ??? appears as a dull-colored hand that stretches out of the toilet asking for paper. Link can give ??? a Title Deed, at which point ??? thanks Link by giving him a Piece of Heart. Additionally, Link can give ??? any of the various letters he acquires throughout the game. This is the only sidequest ??? is featured in.

Oracle of Ages

??? resides in the Toilet in Western Lynna City in the Past in Oracle of Ages. Its hand reaches out and Link can drop numerous items into the hole, including various Mystical Seeds, a pot, Bombs, and Bombchus. Depending on which item is dropped into the hole, ??? responds differently, giving a reaction that relates to the item dropped in.

??? plays a pivotal role in the Trading Sequence. After Link acquires the Stationery from the Postman, he can give it to ???. After apparently using it to wipe himself, ??? gives Link the much less desired Stink Bag. Link later uses the Stink Bag in order to clear the sinuses of a Tokay cook.

Skyward Sword

In Skyward Sword, ??? has a slightly larger role than in previous titles. Additionally, it was confirmed to be female and looks more like a glove than a hand. Just like in Majora's Mask, ??? in Skyward Sword is asking for paper from within a toilet; however, this toilet is inside the Knight Academy on Skyloft. After speaking to ??? for the first time Link can find Cawlin just outside the toilet door during the day. He asks Link to deliver a love letter to Karane. At this point the sidequest can go in two different directions.

Firstly, Link can choose to give the letter to ???; this causes ??? to fall in love with Cawlin after eading the letter. If Link visits Cawlin in Groose's room at night, ??? can be seen stroking Cawlin's back, giving him nightmares. Since ??? is so happy at this new found love, she rewards Link with 5 Gratitude Crystals. Unfortunately, Cawlin is unable to sleep for the rest of the game, as ??? stays with him every night.

The second option of this sidequest is to give the letter its intended target: Karane. After reading the letter, Karane becomes unsure whether she wants to go out with Cawlin or not. Speaking to Pipit upstairs makes him realize how much he really loves Karane. Going back downstairs triggers a cutscene, where both Pipit and Cawlin ask Karane out, and Karane chooses Pipit. Cawlin runs off crying. Because the letter was not delivered to ???, ??? is not seen for the rest of the game. However, Link does receive 5 Gratitude Crystals from Pipit.

Trivia

• In Oracle of Ages, Link can tease ??? by throwing different kinds of Mystical Seeds and bombs into the toilet.
• Link cannot survive the fall into the toilet in which ??? is found in Oracle of Ages.
• ??? is referred to as Phoeni in the Prima Games Skyward Sword Collector's Edition Strategy Guide.

Gallery

• 

  ??? model from Majora's Mask

• 

  ??? in the Stock Pot Inn in Majora's Mask

• 

  ??? from Oracle of Ages

• 

  ??? inside the Toilet in Oracle of Ages

• 

  ??? from Skyward Sword

• 

  ??? with Cawlin in Skyward Sword

References

1. ↑ "This is the hand of a ghost. Identity while alive is unknown. Judging from the look of this hand, the probability that it was a young girl's is 90%. Master, the letter you gave her from Cawlin has inspired feelings for him. The ghost's original purpose for the letter is still unclear." — Fi, Skyward Sword.
2. ↑ ^{2.1 2.2} "??? (Person living in the inn's restroom) Details are unknown." — In-Game Description, Majora's Mask.
3. ↑ ^{3.1 3.2} "No, it's not for Phoeni, it's a (probably doomed) love letter for your classmate Karane." — Prima Games Skyward Sword Collector's Edition Strategy Guide, pg. 231
4. ↑ Shigeru Miyamoto, Entertainment Weekly, February 10th, 2012
5. ↑ "This is the hand of a ghost. Identity while alive is unknown. Judging from the look of this hand, the probability that it was a young girl's is 90%. Master, the letter you gave her from Cawlin has inspired feelings for him. The ghost's original purpose for the letter is still unclear." — Fi, Skyward Sword.