The World of the Ocean King in Phantom Hourglass is filled with all kinds of creatures, some of which are well known to veterans of Hyrule, and some of which have hardly been seen outside of these seas. While travelling throughout the many islands of the Ocean King’s waters, Link will eventually encounter the Old Wayfarer, a strange man who is inexplicably obsessed with finding himself a mermaid since he noticed one appears on Bannan Island whenever the monsters are cleared out. Unfortunately for him, when Link clears out the monsters, the only thing the hero finds is Joanne, a normal human girl who likes to dress up as a mermaid.
It’s actually neccessary for Link to hit Joanne with the Boomerang to actually be able to talk to her, since she will dip under the water as soon as he approaches otherwise. While she immediately demands an apology, she does hear out Link’s story and agrees to visit the Old Wayfarer, despite not being an actual mermaid. She does end up getting Linebeck and the Old Wayfarer confused before finally making it to the old man’s personal pool, which ends up netting Link a free Fishing Rod.
Those familiar with Phantom Hourglass may remember a pirate woman by the name of Jolene who hunts Linebeck down. Joanne actually happens to be the sister of that very same Jolene, and Link can even deliver a letter from one sister to the other as a short side quest for the reward of a Wisdom Gem. Joanne doesn’t do much for the rest of the game, presumably spending her time listening to the tales of the Old Wayfarer.
While it is a little strange the way the Old Wayfarer describes Joanne as the “mermaid of his dreams” despite having a wife and son waiting for him back on his home island, Joanne seems to find the old man appealing enough and seems to genuinely enjoy her time with him. One has to wonder how the eventual conversation about Joanne not actually being a mermaid will go, but until then, she seems more than content to keep up the commitment to living as a mermaid, which I simply have to respect.
