Defending the Princess, Why Zelda?

Hmmm... Link/Zelda never struck me as an odd pairing, but I suppose you do have a point. Then again, opposites attract. I've seen it firsthand - my first "love" was a Korean guy, so we had completely different cultural backgrounds. Also, my parents are as different as can be, and they've been married 26 years.

My parents too were mismatch. My mother's a ...snob sorta. Went to private schools, makes her judgments on looks all the time, was a spoiled brat all her life, you get the idea. My father was the exact opposite. Public schools, doesn't care about his looks, was never spoiled, etc.
I actually wonder HOW she fell in love with HIM in the first place.
They still stand each other, went through many hardships, most caused by their differences.
They don't see each other as a love relationship that must work on romance 24/7, they're close friends first and they make a lot of sacrifices for each other without ever being fluffy and romantic.
It's complicated actually.

It's just too complicated of a relationship for a fictional couple living inside a videogame which is ''known'' for spending more time exploring the gameplay than the plot. For some people.
But personality wise, Link and Zelda aren't a mismatch. Not even culture wise. It's really the plot that makes it unclear/impossible/unlikely.

Meh, they're both awesome, they like each other, they care about each other, that's enough for me.

Yeah you make good points. I mean they aren't that big of a mismatch but IMO they do have different backgrounds and different personalities that make them an unlikely and sort of an unusual couple. All wise and domineering royal princess with a gentle & obedient forest person whom she generally has wrapped around her finger. Not exactly your most traditional man/woman relationship IMO but I think TP LinkxZelda have it the worse when it comes to romantic mismatch with the commoner/royal issue.

I can see where you're coming from with regards to the later Links and Zeldas, like from OoT onward. But with Adventure of Link and a couple of the other earlier ones, the game creators blatantly put in hints that Link and Zelda were or could be romantically involved. The kiss at the end of AoL comes to mind, as does Link's relationship with Marin in LA, who in theory could be a manifestation of Zelda.

Back then, when the game plots were simple, I don't think Link/Zelda seemed an odd match at all. The hero gets the princess in the end, as the cliche goes. But as the newer games get more and more complex and rich in detail, their relationship becomes more complicated.

So yeah... I can see the more recent Links and Zeldas being somewhat implausible pairings.

See, that's where a lot of issues with ZeLink stem from: generalizing the personalities. Remember, each Link and each Zelda have their own unique personalities. Not every Zelda has been "all wise". Only Tetra has been "domineering". The gentlest Link we've ever met was TP!Link, and not every Link is "obedient". ALttP!Link, for instance, deliberately disobeys his uncle. TWW!Link and OoT!Link were both the "reluctant hero" in terms of the Hero's Journey (research the HJ if you haven't already studied it). Link has never, not even once, been wrapped around Zelda's finger.

Royalty x Commoner works, and it's been proven over and over and over. Anybody who's watched a Disney movie knows that. Anybody who's read fairytales knows that. And, regardless of how much anybody wants to argue against it, Link x Zelda exists in AoL. A longer version of that argument exists here: arguments for arguments

Even my fiance and I are total opposites: he's from PA, I'm from CA. He's from one of those stereotypical Roman-Catholic, Italian families where women are generally passive and obedient towards their husbands, and the men are "tough guys". He's grown up with believing you never take sides against the family, and you do anything and everything for the family. I grew up believing that you do what you believe is right, even if it means disowning family members. I'm a Spanish/Japanese girl who's mom is from Spain, who's dad is from Japan, and who was raised by a non-biological Native American father... and that N.A. father was adopted by a woman who's descended from English nobility, and her husband was a Cherokee man. SERIOUSLY. Total opposites in terms of background and culture. I spent half of my childhood growing up in the ghetto, then lived with my rich granny. He lived his whole life in the middleclass area. We and many other couplings IRL and in media are proof that you don't need to have things in common in order to have a happy relationship.

Each Link and Zelda has enough in common to make a relationship work. They also have enough differences to make a relationship work. They are all individuals, and their personalities shouldn't be grouped into one, in my opinion.

That said, TP!Link and TP!Zelda is a possibility. They've both seen difficulty and had to face hardships. At a point in the game, Zelda and Midna are one. People overlook that far too often.
"Say nothing, Midna...
Your heart and mine were as one, however briefly...
Such suffering you have endured..."
The two entities becoming one allowed for them to both experience each others' pain and suffering. They shared emotions; fear, sorrow, distress, hope, and even love. Zelda was there when Link and Midna started showing feelings towards each other- it wasn't even until after they became one that Midna expressed those types of feelings. Zelda felt everything that Midna felt. Everything. That alone is enough to make ZeLink a possibility in Twilight Princess.


"Cliches become cliches because there is some truth to them, and they are oft repeated and proven correct"

Yeah..I agree with you guys/girls on the POSSIBILITY of LinkxZelda for sure even in TP. Good point on the TP Zelda x Midna parallel. Though I feel its more of something that makes MidnaxZelda more compatible than LinkxZelda, your theory Zeruda makes sense. But IMO Link should fall in love with Zelda for herself and not because she is a shallow and superficial replacement for the love he shared with Midna. I still feel TP LinkxZelda is less likely than OOT/MM LinkxZelda and WW LinkxZelda though.

Yes Crystal187, AOL is definitely the most Zelink to date. Remember this was when the 80s cartoon was out and that was clearly Zelink. But Link back then was potrayed more as an assertive, outspoken, and flirty go getter, which is a completely different personality type from the more shy and politely obedient modern Links since OOT.

I still think OOT/MM LinkxZelda is an opposites attract romance but still more believable than TP LinkxZelda without a doubt. IMO Zelda will always have that stigma of abnormality of being a very WISE and unusually smart princess so long as she has the TOW. And Link with the TOC will always be this sort of a romantic mismatch with the cliche simple minded common born hero only without the aggressive leadership qualities more associated with more traditional male heroes like Achillies or Beowulf.

If OOT or TP Link were more like these guys in leadership qualities, Link could easily overcome the commoner/royal obstacle more effectively and maybe become a King ruling by Zelda's side 50/50. Other than that I don't see it happening but OOT/MM LinkxZelda with their close childhood friendship, marriage is still possible but not Kingship for Link IMO. Not only do shy nice guys like Link usually finish last in romance but they make terrible Kings as well.

I don't find OoT/MM!Link to be the shy type at all, though. He may have started out as an outcast in Kokiri Forest, but once he leaves, he seems to fair just fine in terms of being social. He has no problem waltzing right up to strangers or even royalty (Zelda, Ruto, Darunia). He may not be in a leadership position like the king of Hyrule or Princess Zelda, but he undoubtedly has to make important decisions in his quest concerning the safety and future of Hyrule.

Even after being sent back to his own time in order to live out his life properly, he takes it upon himself to revisit Zelda and tell her of the tragedy that befell Hyrule because of their actions. This ensures that those events won't be repeated. He didn't have to do that- he could have simply stayed away from Zelda altogether. But he didn't, he made sure everything was kosher and took the opportunity to become closer to the princess and form a close relationship with her.

OoT/MM!Link is assertive in his actions. He does what he thinks is necessary, and he goes for what he wants. He travels to find a lost friend, and even though he doesn't find her, he finds independence. It's safe to say that while he missed his fairy companion, he no longer needed her; he could make decisions for himself. His being sent back to his own time allows for him to truly develop into an independent, wise person.

That said, he could somewhat easily slide into the role of King. If AoL!Link who was only 15 (about to turn 16) could do it, then surely OoT!Link could when he grows up.

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Oh, and I totally agree with you on the idea that Midna x Zelda is a strong possibility. It's one of my favorite pairings. ;3 But I don't think Zelda is a shallow or superficial replacement of Midna. At the time Link was falling for Midna (or at least, seemed like it), Midna and Zelda (Zeldna) were one. So if Link loved or had any sort of romantic interest in Midna, he would have it for Zelda. Unfortunately, he probably didn't realize this until after Zelda said aloud that she and Midna were one. If Link did in fact comprehend that, then he would probably realize that he loves Zelda. There is, however, the possibility that he would be completely oblivious to something that deep, and he may need to have it explained to him. But, if he did realize that Zelda and Midna were one before Zelda said so herself (meaning, he may have picked up on it the moment that the bond formed), then it would definitely explain him offering his hand. That scene is more symbolic than most pick up on.

I think Link is assertive with his actions and doing the right thing, but not his personality I'm afraid. Thats why its hard for me to believe that he could actually be a realistic Warrior-King like William the Conqueror or Charlemagne who were politically brutal and were nothing like the gentle personalities of OOT or TP Link. But I think OOT/MM Link would be more savy on the royal lifestyle as a normally matured adult in the Child Timeline than TP Link could ever be IMO.

But at best I see him as a Prince Regent/Royal Advisor subservant to Zelda and not far removed from an ornamental trophy/love slave who quietly stands by Zelda's side during all the royal meetings and only speaks when Zelda gives him permission to. But I guess thats still better than TP Link's situation right? But if OOT/MM Link were more like the cartoon Link personality wise without the stupid catch phrase, yes Link as a King ruling by Zelda's side equally is believable.

EDIT: With TP Link and the Zelda/Midna parallel, an arguement I read against it says that since Midna experienced romantic feelings for Link then Zelda as her parallel equal would more likely only have platonic feelings for Link. Therefore if TP Link does have romantic feelings for Zelda, it won't matter anyway and he is just another unrequited gentleman admirer of Zelda standing from afar. And with the whole LinkxZelda in TP being very non Zelink as it is already, its not that unbelievable IMO.

Yeah! I LOVE Midna/Zelda! It's the only female/female pairing I like in anything, ever.

I really can't see Zelda forcing Link into a position where he's a submissive bystander. The Zelda in my head would respect the hero who saved her and her people. Just because Link's shy and inexperienced with politics doesn't mean she would ever take advantage of him like that. If they did ever end up together, I think she would still make all of the decisions for the kingdom, but probably ask for his advice on certain issues that he could provide input on.

That being said, I don't think King Link will ever happen. Definitely can't see that.

Thank you, Zeruda. *Bows to the ground* I am endebted to your arguments.
Does endebted exist as a word? tohaveadebttowards...

Can we stop comparing Link to medieval conquerors who would've been seen as tyrants in Hyrule anyway? Not as big as Ganondorf but a Hyrule ruled by brutality is an unhappy Hyrule. Unlike our own world, who seems to enjoy it sometimes.
Especially during the Middle Ages.
Zelda wouldn't stand a warring brute anyway.

And the cartoon can't be used as an argument to excuse LoZ/AoL's romance. Heck, I think it came before AoL, did it not? Explaining why there are only two Triforce pieces in it, or so I've heard.

I think that the only reason Link would do anything Zelda asks is because he trusts her. The moment he'll think she's wrong (though unlikely since she's the wise one and the Goddesses messages usually go through her..) he'll find a way to go his own way. No need to be aggressive to get what you want and to be strong, especially towards such a pacifist lady. Not the traditionnal image of a couple but then again this is Hyrule, both traditionnal and out of the ordinary.
I CAN see grown WW Link try to argue with girlfriend/wife Tetra, fail, do his own way all the same, get in trouble... Fun fun game it would be!

And Link is always a very young man, he can still grow, learn about how his world works and do something about it. After all, he IS worthy of the Triforce of Courage so getting stuck as a ''simple-minded follower'' is improbable for me, for Courage doesn't limit itself to stabbing monsters.
Always being as lonely as he is, he has to learn how to speak for himself. And he does, since he talks to everyone on sight.

On another note, is it me, or can Tetra be compared to what Midna would've been as a kid?

All that said and, really, the only reason I am always taken aback by the King Link arguments is because I don't see him as a King.
I don't see him as an empty shelled goody-two-shoes who can't say no either.
It's just that I see ruling a kingdom as the opposite of freedom, and I like playing the Legend of Zelda for its apparent freedom. (Like, OMG I can jump to that ledge for no reason!!!!!)
However, I believe that we can't limit ourselves to what the game shows us (or doesn't), and the reason he does what Zelda says is because he knows he can trust her.
She was in his dream anyway, and she was providing him with answers. He thought he was doing the right thing and he risked his life for it.
If he thinks someone is wrong, he'll do anything to stop it.
Even if it involves, OMG, arguing with people instead of killing octoroks by himself.
But this is Legend of Zelda, not Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, nor Sid Meier's Civilisation. The player is supposed to be interested in completing quests and the secondary characters are there to help. They're not supposed to be interested in seeing Link argue and make an ass out of himself for the sake of looking like a leader in front of a well educated noble girl.
Snappy responses are always fun (when actually snappy), but it makes the game uselessly longer.
Easier to make him grimace in front of Ilia as if she was his mother (so I found her to be more a mother figure than a possible girlfriend at that moment, sue me ) instead of making him talk back like an angsty teen.
Also made me smile for the guy. Eh, TP was my first Zelda game and I was expecting a random hero bent on his upcoming missions and nothing else, not a guy who could be taken for humoristic purposes.
It annoyed a lot of people, and it would've normally annoyed me too (at least Ilia anyway), but in this case I saw a random young man thrown in something bigger than himself, not a blank model for heroism.

Oh, crap, defending the PRINCESS.
... I don't think Zelda will ever want to force something on Link. She always gives him a choice.
Except maybe Tetra, that tricky lass, but when she understands what's happening she regrets it, and it then shows that Link doesn't mind putting his life on the line. Childishly he smiles and does a ''no biggie!'' gesture, nothing heroic or even remotely mature as he did when he pulled the Master Sword (well, he tried to look heroic and mature. SO CUTE.) He doesn't do it to obey, he does it because it's there inside him, willing to give his all for others, thus why the Goddesses like him so much.

Last OoT note on Link while I'm thinking about it:
He's a brat.
Throwing rocks at the castle windows, stealing Epona from Ingo (so ok, she was promised to him if he won, but not a lot of people would have the guts to go that far on a simple bet, no matter what people say), taking the fisherman's hat and throwing it into the water (he then pays, but it's because he knows it was wrong to do that), harming cuccos...
Don't think causing a little havoc inside a conference room when he knows he's right would shame him. Also, I find the possibilty to tell Nabooru you either hate or support Ganondorf to be an interesting add-on. You know, instead of just her saying ''oh, I see I can use you'' or something they give us the choice to make Link think a way to convince Nabooru he should go in there. Either a bold ''I hate Ganondorf!'' to a Gerudo or a ''What if I am?'' to a possible ally.
TP Link: ''overworking'' Epona even though dear Ilia hates it, snapping at Midna at first when she mocked him in the prison cell, growling whenever she falls on his back (instead of whinning), testing the bomb maker's patience...
WW Link: let's not even start with that (adorable) brat.

Right, Zelda.
I've yet to see her dominate anyone. To lead and to dominate are two different things for me, unless you're a dog.
And again, she didn't tell Link ''go do that'', she asked. Then we had to accept because the game's about the quests, not the arguing.
As Tetra the pirate, well, as a pirate she has to both dominate and lead.


Edit
Crystal: on Zelda X Midna. *Laughs out Loud* I've yet to find a gay pairing I like, and I admit I'm not searching really hard.
Ditto on everything else. *Nods*

Damm..I can always depend on you Kokirian Clockwork on a well detailed post. Your Link being a brat theories was cool to read. But yeah I think we can all agree that Link would be able to find ways to be more assertive in his own way and eventually fit in a royal lifestyle with Zelda and become a competent royal advisor. When I say Link is Zelda's obedient trophy love slave its not really anything negative IMO. But I generally agree with you and Crystal that King Link is unlikely. Personally I do not think Link would actively try to pursue Kingship in the first place unless Zelda somehow insisted upon it. But on that subject I think OOT/MM Link as a normally matured adult would have a better chance at being a King than TP Link.

KokirianClockwork, I actually look forward to reading your posts. Seriously, they're well thought out, humorous, and hold truth all at the same time. And yeah, heh heh, Link is much of a brat.... more of less depending on the actions of the player. But, nevertheless, he is a brat. ;p

On the note of King Link.... since it happened once (AoL), I'd love to see it happen again. Now that games are much more detailed and extensive in their stories and character development, it'd be a great way of giving the TLoZ series that "something new and exciting" that Aonuma and Miyamoto are looking for. Mind you, there are tons of other things that could contribute to that, but King Link is definitely something that could be worked on.

AoL!Link would be a great King Link. He's the youngest "Adult Link" in the series, and in his quest, like other Links, he's had to make important decisions concerning the welfare of Hyrule. Blah blah blah, he becomes the next king. What would he be like? Not all kings are "goody two shoes"... LoTR, King Arthur, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, etc. have showed us this. Even King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule was no goody two shoes. Personally, I see a number of Links being great kings.

OoT/MM!Link strikes me as somebody who'd be present on the frontlines if Hyrule went to war. He became very concerned with Hyrule's safety even after being sent back to his own time, so much that he made sure those events could happen again. I figure he'd want to be right there on the battlefield to make sure everything goes right. I see him as somebody who's give his life for his kingdom.

TP!Link seems like he'd concentrate on the wealth of the nation- his hard labor as a ranch hand and having grown up in a village that exports goods would probably contribute to his knowledge of what to import/export of to/from where. He'd probably help Hyrule's growth a lot.

TWW!Link would probably support exploration of lands. If he ruled a kingdom, he'd probably extend his boundaries. I also see him as a peaceful king who'd make many treaties- not somebody who'd try to take over others' land.

All Links, though, strike me as fair and just kings. Each Link travels far and wide. They each see riches and poverty, and I think each Link would want to make sure everybody in their kingdom lived well.

And who's to say that any King Link would be cooped up in a castle? Kings in history have traveled, so why not Link? Zelda could accompany him or stay in the castle depending on her mood. FURTHERMORE, Zelda could be the one in charge if need be. In TP, she's the ruler. Who's to say that Link has to do everything. Heck, they could even make joint decisions.

.....Aladdin went from street rat to Sultan. >_>

Yeah I think the POSSIBILITY of Link being a King is there. Its just unlikely, mainly with TP Link. Yes...I'm a Malinker and I would prefer Link making his name as a Hero as a humble feudal knight serving Zelda and not a King ruling by Zelda's side. But if he chose a royal lifestyle over a humble lifestyle I see Link as a competent royal advisor who MIGHT be a King someday but who knows. More than likely Zelda will not force it upon him IMO. But his Epona time would be rather limited in a royal lifestyle. In a LinkxMalon it fits better with Epona + Malon/Ranch not Epona + Zelda/Castle. Thats like associating the ocarina with Malon IMO. But I think AOL Link is the only comfirmed Link who probably became a King.

It's always a pleasure to receive compliments!

I also think AoL Link is the only confirmed king. But I doubt the next game will make him king or anything, since it would involve making an official couple and a whole lot of fangirls (and boys) out there will be screaming ''MURDER''.
Would be an interesting sight. And since a lot of people will be displeased I'll be laughing with a cruel tone.

One question: is AoL Link the same as the one in the original Legend of Zelda? I like to think so, but their plot's surprising simplicity confuses me. Well, that and the way people talk about those games.


This keeps bugging me also... Cartoon Link as a king...
Poor, poor people of Hyrule. Sure, he'll be righteous, but beware of those speeches he'll give them. DX

NO!!!! The obnoxious cartoon Link giving a royal speech would be every bit as annoying as the thought of a soft spokenly shy Link giving a royal speech. I'm not a timeline theorist but I do think LOZ/AOL Link same Link differrent Zeldas.