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hero x princess
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The Legend of Zelda
The older generation knows that the classic Zelda games had very little story, and what little they had could be found in the game's instruction
manual or booklet. What was great about the older games was that the Link-Player bond (the bond that says the player is Link and vice versa) was
much stronger, so characteristics and love for a character transcended between the two. In The Legend of Zelda, Ganon, the King of Evil,
breaks free from the Dark World and captures Hyrule's beloved Princess Zelda. Before she is caught, Zelda manages to shatter the Triforce of
Wisdom and scatter its eight pieces throughout Hyrule. Link swears to recover the Triforce pieces and rescue Princess Zelda from Ganon's
clutches ( SOURCE).
The instruction manual tells us that when Zelda shattered the Triforce of Wisdom, it ticked Ganon off, so he imprisoned her and sent a
search party out to catch Impa. While fleeing, Impa met an adventurer named Link. So, we already know that he was an adventurer beforehand,
and had probably saved other lands as well. Link's heart burned with justice, and he wanted to save the princess and the kingdom
( SOURCE). This first Zelda game is a
classic fairytale, and like most fairytales, it's possible that he and the princess could hook up afterwards, even if it was never stated?
Why? Because the Link/Player bond allows for that. If you played this game and wished for Link and Zelda to become lovers, then it would be so,
because you are Link.
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The Adventure of Link
Another one of the classics, AoL had little story to be found in-game, but there was plenty for us back in the day if we looked to the
instruction manual/booklet. In The Adventure of Link, a mysterious sorcerer placed a curse on Princess Zelda, causing her to drift into an
eternal sleep. Link discovered that the sorcerer had fled to the ancient ruin of the Great Palace, and learned that the only way to break the
seal on the palace gate was to replace the shards of a Magic Crystal
( SOURCE). Another fairytale! And it sounds like none other than Sleeping
Beauty, am I right? Reading the instruction booklet, we learn that as a 15-year-old Link approached his 16th birthday, the kingdom's crest
appeared on his hand...
He learned from Impa that a beautiful princess had been put under a spell by a magician when she would not reveal the
secret of the Triforce to her brother and heir to the throne. Guilt and grief stricken, the prince ordered that every female child born into
the royal household shall be given the name Zelda so that the tragedy would never be forgotten. Impa handed Link a scroll and six crystals that
were passed down through her family for generations, items that were to be set aside for a time when a great king would come. The scroll
stated that, when this person came, a crest would appear on their hand
( SOURCE,
2,
3,
4).
It has been said that Miyamoto himself said Link and Zelda marry, but I have not found any references to support this. In any case, Link did
have the crest on his hand, showing that he would be the next king and holder of all three pieces of the Triforce. At the end of the game, Link
and Zelda get close and kiss as the curtain falls ( IMAGE). Isn't that sweet?
That, my fellow shippers, is some hard evidence.
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A Link to the Past
Nintendo's third Zelda gamed released, A Link to the Past had even more depth than its predecessors. An evil sorcerer named Agahnim
gained control of Hyrule and useed his power to free Ganon from his prison in the Dark World. After rescuing Princess Zelda from Agahnim's
grasp, Link freed the descendents of the Seven Sages and strengthened the magical seals designed to keep Ganon safely locked away
( SOURCE). Once again, we can refer to the manual for information on the
game. Late at night in the highest tower of Hyrule Castle, Agahnim had been performing "experiments" on the descendants of the Seven Sages in
order to break their seal to the Dark World (Golden Land/Sacred Realm). Through telepathy, Zelda pleads for help. Disobeying his uncle, Link
leaves the house and follows him to save Zelda and ends up embarking on a perilous journey to save both worlds....
As we learn from the manual, Link is just a simple boy living with his uncle- he doesn't even know who Zelda is! Telepathically, Zelda informs
Link of a hidden path that leads into the castle's courtyard. We can assume that Zelda is the curious type if she, a princess who is to remain
in the castle, has knowledge of secret paths. She even informs Link of a secret route through the sewers, and has no problem wading through the
muck. Even after she is captured, she uses her telepathic powers to aid Link the best she can from her prison in the Dark World. She's not a
frail little princess- she does everything she can to help!
We also know that Link is a bit rebellious and curious, as he directly disobeys his uncle's orders and runs off on a quest in the middle of the
night, sneeking past guards and infiltrating the castle. Even after having his uncle die in his arms, he continues on with his quest, showing
perserverence. In the Dark World, he transforms into a rabbit, symbolizing life's continuation with rebirth of Hyrule, self-sacrifice,
vigilance, quietness, kindness, clear-sightedness, and gentleness.. After saving Hyrule and becoming the new owner of the Triforce, he
restores Hyrule, showing that he is selfless and humble ( SOURCE).
So we have two characters with similar personalities- who's to say that these two couldn't get together after Link saves the world? A princess
and a peasant, isn't that cute? Again, being one of the older games, the Link-Player bond is still very strong, meaning you are Link!
If you want Link and Zelda to be a couple, then surely they will be!
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Link's Awakening
During a sailing voyage, Link becomes hopelessly sidetracked and finds himself shipwrecked on Koholint Island. While on the island, Link helps
its many inhabitants by recovering the eight Instruments of the Sirens and waking the Wind Fish
( SOURCE). As it turns out, Link was out adventuring on a quest for
enlightenment, in search of wisdom that would help him withstand the next threat to Hyrule. However, on his way back home, a squall struck his
ship, and he drifted unconsciously to the shores of Koholint Island. Link awoke to a women he mistook for Princess Zelda standing over him.
This Zelda lookalike was actually an island girl named Marin, and she became Link's best friend during his stay on Koholint
( SOURCE,
2).
The relationship between Marin and Link was hinted at very strongly in LA. In fact, it's still the strongest hinted relationship today. Various
words and scenes were very strong:
In one scene, Marin and Link share a moment at the shore. Marin tells Link about her dreams, and even accidently slips up with her words,
letting on a little more than she wanted to. During this scene, she constantly glances over at Link
(VIDEO).
- "When I discovered you, Link , my heart skipped a beat!"
- "I want to know everything about you...Err...Uhh, Ha ha ha ha!"
There were also other parts in the game where Marin hinted at her feelings for Link:
- "Please, don't ever forget this song...or me..."
- "Thank you for everything! Link , you are the kindest boy I know. One day I made a wish to the Wind Fish... What was the wish? It
was... No, it's secret!"
- "Link , some day you will leave this island... I just know it in my heart... ...Don't ever forget me... If you do, I'll never
forgive you!"
- "... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Say... Link ... Uhh... I don't know how to say this... but..." (Talon: MAAAAAAARINNNN!!)
"Hunh?! Tarin??! ... ... ... ... Uh... Nevermind, I... I gotta go!"
(SOURCE)
For those who don't know, it's canon for Marin to have either red or blonde hair. Each Zelda game has various styles of artwork- usually 2
(sometimes 3) types. In some artwork, she had red hair- in other artwork she had blonde hair. You'll have to remember that when LA came out,
it was in black and white, and it wasn't until later that her sprite was given red hair in the rerelease
( IMAGE, 2,
3). Seeing that Koholint is a land in the Wind Fish's dream
(a dream also shared with Link), it is widely speculated that Marin was Link's "dream girl" version of Princess Zelda. A simple peasant
(although a hero) being with a princess is unlikely (although canon in AoL), and his only way to ever come to be so close to her is through a
dream. Marin symbolized Princess Zelda in many ways people overlook:
- She wanted to fly away- to be free. Much like a princess would want to be free so that she may choose who she would want to be with... to
just cast aside all those royal duties and live her own life.
- She came so close to telling Link her feelings on multiple accounts... Princess Zelda would have wanted to do the same, but could not.
- She was also given a very simple design... a major contrast to the regal wardrobe a princess would have. Perhaps this was to symbolize
that beneath that royal shell was a normal, simple girl who just wanted to live freely.
At the end of the game, the Wind Fish says, "BUT, VERILY, IT BE THE NATURE OF DREAMS TO END! WHEN I DOST AWAKEN, KOHOLINT WILL BE GONE...
ONLY THE MEMORY OF THIS DREAM LAND WILL EXIST IN THE WAKING WORLD... SOMEDAY, THOU MAY RECALL THIS ISLAND... THAT MEMORY MUST BE THE REAL DREAM
WORLD..."( SOURCE). There are two
ways this can be viewed:
- Link may one day dream of this world again. This would be his only way of being with his dream girl, Marin, a reachable version of Princess
Zelda.
- It could be a hint that he will be able to reach his "dream world" in the waking world, meaning that perhaps he will one day truly be
with Princess Zelda.
This coupling is probably one of the most important hints toward the ZeLink pairing. Even in his dreams, he wants to be with her. It's also one
of the most controversial theories.
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Ocarina of Time
The OoT!Link x OoT!Zelda pairing is by far one of the most popular choices among ZeLinkers. In this game, Link, a young Hylian boy with a great
destiny is an orphan living among the Kokiri, a race of forest-dwelling people with eternal youth. After learning that he must save Hyrule, he
must leave his one and only best friend, Saria, and embark on a quest to save Hyrule. We can assume that Link, being an outcast of the Kokiri,
would undoubtedly emotionally latch onto any new friends he might make. One of these friends is our lovely little princess, Zelda.
Zelda, like other princesses in her bloodline, has unique powers- she has prophetic dreams. When she and Link meet, she asks him to gather the
Sacred Stones. Zelda, being the young princess of Hyrule, is cared for by her nursemaid, Impa. This shows us that the princess must be cared
for, and it's unlikely that she would have a chance to leave the castle, hence her giving Link his quest. We can assume that, like Link, Zelda
would not have many friends outside the castle, and would more than likely latch onto new friends in an emotional manner.
After Link awakens from a seven year slumber- due to pulling the Master Sword at too young an age- he meets Sheik. As players come to find out,
Sheik is actually none other than Princess Zelda in disguise as a male Sheikah. Throughout Link's quest, Sheik follows Link and aids him in any
way he can. Sheik makes multiple hints towards his what may be Zelda's true feelings toward Link. There are also a number of moments that are
shared between the two:
- "It is something that grows over time... a true friendship. A feeling in the heart that becomes even stronger over time...
The passion of friendship will soon blossom into a righteous power and through it, you will know which way to go..."
(SOURCE)
- "Time passes, people move... Like a river's flow, it never ends... A childish mind will turn to noble ambition... Young love
will become deep affection... The clear water's surface reflects growth... Now listen to the Serenade of Water to reflect upon
yourself...." (SOURCE)
- After Link defeats Morpha, Sheik speaks to him, then disappears... but, Sheik is actually standing atop the lone tree, gazing at Link
for a moment before he dives into Lake Hylia and disappears (VIDEO).
- After Link defends Sheik against a shadowy monster in Kakariko Village, Sheik stays by his side until he awakens from his
unconsciousness. This is unlike Sheik, as normally he vanishes. This time, though, he stays by Link's side
(VIDEO).
- When Sheik reveals his true identity and transforms back into Princess Zelda, she tells him she waited for his return for seven years.
Humbly, she asks for his protection. If she could survive as a Sheikah, surely she could care for herself, but she puts her life in
Link's hands with a smile on her face (VIDEO).
- When Zelda is enveloped in an crystal, Link runs up to her. In worry and frustration, he actually bangs his hands on the crystal
(VIDEO).
- After felling Ganondorf, Link and Zelda flee the collapsing tower. When Link is hit by falling debris, Zelda cries out in worry for
his safety.
- When Link and Zelda assume that Ganondorf has been defeated, they turn towards each other and exchange a smile. When a loud thud is
heard, Link protectively pushes her behind him (VIDEO).
- After the sealing of Ganon, Link and Zelda share a goodbye in the sky. Zelda's posture (her hand over her arm) and sad expression
show that she is reluctant to send Link back to his own time, but she knows she must. When she asks for the Ocarina of Time, Link hesitates
and reluctantly hands it over. Zelda places her hand over Link's, and once again humbles herself before him with a sincere apology.
- Once Link is sent back to his own time, he returns to the castle courtyard to meet Zelda again, and bring her back into his life.
This is the beginning of an even closer relationship between the two
(VIDEO).
As Navi is gone, Link's only friend left is Princess Zelda. Knowing he is not Kokiri, but actually Hylian, he cannot very well return to the
forest. The fact that he returns to Zelda instead shows that he has developed some sort of feelings toward her, romantic or otherwise. The two
make a great coupling, as Zelda is secretly a tomboy, and Link is obviously the adventurous type. Princess Zelda even has a good sense of humor
when Link displays his various masks to her.
( SOURCE). This pairing appeals to
those who enjoy bittersweet romances. After Link and Zelda become close through the tragedy that befell Hyrule, they were torn apart by time.
After Link rebuilds the relationship, he embarks on a journey, leaving Hyrule...
Cartoons
retro toonage
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The Quest for Romance
In the late 80's and early 90's, The Legend of Zelda cartoon would play on Fridays. The series was only 13 episodes long, but it was
entertaining nonetheless. It took place sometime after the first two Zelda games. Ganon had been revived and stole the Triforce of Power. From
his lair, he'd try again and again to obtain the other pieces of the Triforce. The series, however, was not as dark as one may think- it was
full of silly and cheesy jokes, with an immature and goofy Link constantly trying to get a smooch from the spunky Princess Zelda who always gave
him a bit of attitude.
While it was obvious that Link had a huge crush on Zelda, the princess herself didn't show much of the same feelings at first, though there were
hints here and there as to how she may have really felt about Link. In one particular episode, Doppelganger, a fake Zelda gives Link all
the kisses he could wish for, but his love for Zelda gives him the feeling that something is not quite right with the fake's ice-cold kisses.
Though the doppelganger wasn't really Zelda, seeing her kiss Link was almost enough to make ZeLinkers squeal with glee as the lookalike and the
hero locked lips. While Link never really got very far in his quest for romance, there were a couple of moments where Zelda surprised both Link
and the viewers by going in for a kiss of her own will.
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Screenies
Manga/Doujinshi
Draw me a kiss
Misconceptions
You are so wrong
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The Silent Hero
The Zelda series has left many impressions of its various characters. Most of the time, these are correct, but there are many
misconceptions within the series that leave fans with the wrong impressions of their beloved characters. Here, I will provide
information for those who wish to understand a little better.
Somehow, people have it in their heads that, if they do not hear the character speak or see his/her dialogue text, then the character must not ever speak. Of course, I'm referring to the
various Links in the series. Link has been given the title of "Silent Hero" by his fans. However,
most fans are unaware of the fact that Link is not silent at all. He actually does speak.
In fact, Link speaks often. It's within other characters' dialogue text that you will find that he does
indeed talk. I will provide you with examples below:
OCARINA OF TIME
- malon: "Thank you very much for the other day... I haven't even asked you your name yet... ........ Really?Link! That's what I
thought! You're the fairy boy from the forest! That was years ago! Do you remember me?"
Obviously, Malon has asked Link's name, and Link has answered her question- we just don't see the actual text. (SOURCE)
LINK'S AWAKENING
- marin: "What? Zelda? No, my name's Marin! You must still be feeling a little woozy. You are on Koholint Island!"
Here, Link awakes in a daze, and calls Marin "Zelda". Again, we don't see the actual text. This style is unique to the Zelda series. (SOURCE)
There have been a few times that Link has spoken and text was provided for us. However, it seems that many people have missed these instances. It
is rare that one will find Link's dialogue text in a game, so keep your eyes peeled in future games! Examples:
MAJORA'S MASK
- link: "It's like my heart is being peered right into. That's a disturbing eye!"
This is what Link says when he examines a Gossip Stone. (SOURCE)
OCARINA OF TIME
- link: "What? You're right, I don't have my equipment ready, but..."
This is what Link says when he speaks to Mido when trying to get past him to see the Great Deku Tree. He only says this if you haven't found the
sword and shield. Many claim that it was Mido who said this, but when OOT was first released, this moment that Link spoke was actually a big deal among the Zelda community. It seems that people
have forgotten, unfortunately. (SOURCE, 2)
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