Released in 2000, Majora’s Mask is chock-full of unique characters. Each resident of Clock Town is eccentric and diverse; however, the oddities go much deeper than designs and behaviors. While the character models and conversations are some of the most unusual in the series, the personal stories and individual motivations of each character are what distinguish Majora’s Mask from other Zelda games. Although nearly every character’s backstory is special, the most bizarre scene is the ghost invasion of Romani Ranch.
Sharing a peaceful likeness to Lon Lon Ranch from Ocarina of Time, Romani Ranch presents a quiet escape from the dangers of Termina Field. The lush fields are a wistful reminder of galloping around Hyrule Field on Epona, and Cremia’s younger sister Romani even bears a striking resemblance to Malon. While the artistic design and layout of the ranch is nostalgic and familiar, the similarities end when Link speaks with Romani for the first time. Expecting a cheerful conversation, Link is stunned as Romani reveals an unsettling truth.
“They… They come at night… every year when the carnival approaches… They come riding in a bright, shining ball. A whole lot of them come down… And then… They come to the barn…“
-Romani
Unlike her carefree doppelganger from Ocarina of Time, Romani is preparing to defend the ranch’s livestock from an extraterrestrial invasion. Although her sister Cremia questions the validity of the threat, Romani begs Link to help. The hero accepts and meets Romani around 2am by the stables. A half-hour passes, and ghostly figures slowly begin to descend from the sky. Link must use the Hero’s Bow to fend off the attack, but if he fails, the cows of Romani Ranch are whisked away by the alien beings. By protecting the ranch until dawn, Romani rewards Link with a Bottle of Milk.
After completing Romani’s quest for the first time, I was dumbfounded. I had slowly accepted that Majora’s Mask would be a peculiar experience, but I never expected to witness an alien invasion in a Zelda game. Nearly two decades passed, and the bizarre encounter all but faded from thought until I stumbled across a piece of obscure American folklore. Dubbed the “Phantom of Flatwoods,” the West Virginian tale shares an eerie similarity to the invasion of Romani Ranch.
During the twilight hours of a fall day in 1952, three boys from Flatwoods, West Virginia were passing the time at a nearby playground. As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, the boys noticed a streak of red light descend from the sky and land on the farm across the street. The boys quickly ran home to tell their mother, and she agreed to accompany the boys on an investigation. Several neighbors also witnessed the streak of light and joined the search party.
As the group reached the top of the farmhouse hill, one of the boys let out a blood-curdling scream. According to their eyewitness accounts, the group discovered a 10-foot creature with a pair of glowing eyes and claw-like hands. The monster appeared to be wearing a skirt and surrounded by an eerily thick layer of mist. The party quickly ran down the hill and reported the story in the local newspaper.
The story made the front page of the Charleston Daily Mail (now called the Charleston Gazette-Mail) and almost instantly became a nationwide phenomenon. The boys’ mother and several Flatwoods residents spoke about their experience on several national television shows, and the United States Air Force even sent a team of UFO experts to inspect the scene. Although most people labeled the incident a hoax, the bizarre tale faded into legend and became known as the “Flatwoods Monster.”
Although Nintendo has not confirmed the inspiration behind the Romani Ranch sidequest, the design of the Majora’s Mask ghosts is nearly identical to the sketches of the Flatwoods Monster. Moreover, both stories involve young children who discovered strange creatures on local farms. But perhaps the most remarkable similarity is that fans of extraterrestrial folklore can still relive both experiences today. Majora’s Mask can still be played on multiple Nintendo systems, and the town of Sutton, West Virginia opened the Flatwoods Monster Museum to commemorate the supernatural events of 1952. If you are ever traveling through the rural Appalachian state, be sure to visit the memorial that might have inspired Romani Ranch.
