Defending the Princess, Why Zelda?

Well, Link as a king, no matter how peaceful Hyrule could be, wouldn't last a day if he stayed inside his shell.
Would be easier to make OoT/TP Link speak out with authority than make cartoon Link stfu.

LoZ/AoL: K, I think so too.

True, I guess if OOT or TP Link were to go HUUUTT WAAAAT YAAAAAT ORAAAAH SAAAYAAAH!!! That should get the undivided attention of the royal subjects without question But yeah..both OOT and TP Link wouldn't last a day as King if they retained their in game personalities for sure.

Well, at least for OoT Link, I don't think it would be hard since he can even play music in front of a crowd. As a shy person myself, it's no small feet and if you can do that with the confidence he did, once he learns how to rule he'll have no trouble handling it.

And I would be the royal subject yelling "BOOOO!!! Go back to the forest you weird looking freak!!! BOOOO!!! Your ocarina playing SUCKS!!! BOOOO!!" That should crush Link's shy and gentle spirit. "We want Beowulf We want Beowulf!! Not some weird looking forest savage who can barely verbally communicate to rule over us!!" Ha JK But seriously...I can agree on OOT/MM Link as a normally matured adult would be a more believable King than TP Link.

Agreed.

I never saw OoT!Link as shy... he never exhibits shy behavior. He's very... confident, it seems.

And yes, it's a possibility that LoZ/AoL Link are the same.. but it's not for sure.
1998 :: Miyamoto: Ocarina of Time is the first story, [then MM], [then TP] then the original Legend of Zelda, then Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and finally A Link to the Past. It's not very clear where Link's Awakening fits in--it could be anytime after Ocarina of Time. In this sense, btw, these games fall in place on the side of the timeline that OoT!Link gets sent back to his own time. But this was long before TP came and a bit before OoT's direct sequel, MM. Still, I'm sure that TP would still fall between OoT and TLoZ, so I feel confident in assuming that AoL!Link has a possibility of being the same Link from TLoZ.

The AoL manual says that Ganon needs the blood of the one who defeated him [Link] in order to be revived. It's safe to assume that AoL!Link was the one that defeated Ganon before... either that, or a relative of the Link that defeated him, but the former is more believable.

ZERUDA SAID:
I never saw OoT!Link as shy... he never exhibits shy behavior. He's very... confident, it seems.


But I still don't think poking bad guys with a sword and being a virtuoso on the ocarina qualifies for being a King does it?? In game OOT Link seems VERY socially inexperienced in communicating with just polite nods mixed with grunting and sighing. There is NO WAY someone like this could ever hope to be a King of anything or anyone period.

Yes..I'm fully aware of the hints in dialogue that he does SPEAK, but in game OOT Link STILL seemed more like someone with a shy/lonely and gentle natured cherub like spirit. That type of person does not make much for a BELIEVABLE King IMO.

I just have to disagree with that. He doesn't seem shy to me in any way. Yes, he does in fact speak, but like its been stated several places over the years, we just don't read the text. In a few cases, we do see his text. As far as OoT!Link goes, though... honestly, I see him as a very social person. He does seem lonely, yes, (I mean totally.... he lost Saria AND Navi, and then had to rebuild his friendship with Zelda... poor guy), but still far from shy.

It's safe to say that he's a good listener, and that's a skill a good king does need. Link makes various acquaintances, helps people with their little needs (Cucco lady, her brother, Talon, guards, etc.). He doesn't need to concern himself with these things, but he does... showing that, on some level, he has social skills. He even puts up with rude people like Tatl for long periods of time. He knows how to handle people and situations. In my mind, that makes for a good king.

And hey, we can't expect that, if he did become king, he'd know everything right off the bat. Zelda and other nobles would undoubtedly help him, and I'm sure his willpower, courage, and knowledge of how to handle situations would be a breath of fresh air in the ruling of Hyrule.

Weird, a lot of manly, testosterone filled men can be pictured as exactly the same: speaking with grunts, prefering to hit things over talking with them, you get the idea. The only reason this Terminator is uneasy around females is because he doesn't fully understand what's going on below his belt.

Lonely is adequate, since he discovers he wasn't a Kokiri and since he was thrown out there as a false adult when he had to save the world: no one would feel good in his shoes. He feels fake no matter where he stands, and he is unable to corner who he is with all the fighting he must constantly do.

But saying he's shy and gentle just because he nods instead of filling our screen with useless text is an exageration imo, especially since it wasn't made this way to tell us he lacks confidence but to make us imagine want he could be saying.
Don't see how talking with a nod to support his says makes him shy and gentle.
Really, with OoT Link, the only lack of confidence I deduce is because of his identity constantly been in conflict with what he thinks of himself, not because he's afraid of people. At first, adults are intimidating with their height and rudeness, but his decision to, for example, do what Mido says instead of standing up to him is because he know Mido's right. Link is quite the pacifist also. I do see him uneasy if someone's rude to him and he feels it's his fault, but I also have no problem imagining him getting angry if injustice is shown.
I also see him as someone in an eternal conflict with the immaturity he wishes to show as a kid and the maturity he needs to show as both an adult and the saviour of the world. As WW tried to look mature when feeling he was doing something heroic, he still knew how to be a real child. OoT Link's child friends were Kokiri, who aren't exactly the same as regular children who eventually grow old. Then the Castle Town adults, who pushed him away rudely or treated him like a baby. His best influence was Zelda, and Saria too actually, who are both mature, confident women (kids I mean...) who won't loose their temper to aggressivity the way most adults would when they feel they have the right to demand whatsoever. Once he learns what he can do apart from stabbing monsters normal people are too afraid to even stare at, he'll have no trouble ruling. IF he wants to rule. The guy knows how to get what he wants, if he wants to rule he'll rule and no one will bring him down.
In my own version, ruling isn't for him, because it'll mean having to protect himself more than he should protect others (if the king dies, chaos ensues. But if someone else dies for the king, it's more ''accepted''. Don't think Link would like that. Nor Zelda for that matter, but she MUST lead her kingdom.)
During all the game, OoT Link is ten years old (more or less anyway. Not more than 12). Even in his adult body, he never had a chance to mature mentally the same way others boys do. That's where I see him as ''abnormal'', but in no way did I see him doubt about his own abilities.
Funny to see the reasons MalonsLover sees OoT Link as a shy, shaking puppy are the same reasons others see him as a mindless Terminator-like hero with no intelligence whatsoever. ::

TP Link I do see as shy, but I can't imagine him in a little ball, crying, because his speech failed either. He'll feel bad, he'll bite his lip, maybe growl (ooh, growling's cute) and then sigh, but he'll try again and he'll succeed.
He's Courage for Nayru's sake.
It's Link, he's not a blood-thirsty bastard, but he can do anything if we want him to succeed, that's how I see Nintendo's fantasy hero.

WW Link I have no problem imagining telling people ''hey! I'm talking here!'' ::Insert Brawler Toon Link's unhappy face here::

Ocarina virtuoso: It's not his talent that can make him a good ruler, it's the fact that he's not afraid to show it to people. Switch the music (who can displease the public or go wrong) with a reason to convince them of something and there ya go. His simple words (since we can safely assume he's no Shakespeare) will be easier to grasp than those of an educated prince who thinks peasants will know the meaning of his expansive vocabulary.
The one problem I see is that if he fails to get his point through, he'll do everything himself.
That's a no-no, Link: kings can risk their lives, but not like that.
Convince him he needs the crowd to succeed and he'll do it.
But he believes he can do everything himself. Silly boy.


Fun random thought:
Link kills Ganon(dorf), Ganon(dorf) is a king.
In Ancient Rome, that'll make him king. XD
Ok, doesn't exactly work that way, but leave me to my Hyrulian fantasies.




Edit:
Zeruda You posted before me without me noticing. I have to read you now XD

I'm still not convinced that in game OOT/MM Link with basic social skills who is good at poking enemies, playing an instrument, and generally very good at following orders is more qualified to rule Hyrule with Zelda than say a randomly royal educated nobleman. Just because Link is not shy when it comes to action means he is automatically a social butterfly and a leader in social situations. It doesn't make sense given the in game evidence.

Anybody who is not blind or stupid understands full well that IN GAME OOT/MM Link is not a social butterfly with leadership skills in the very least. Even in a fangirly Cinderella & Peter Pan fairy tale logic, in game Link as the soft spoken mascot of the common people & diverse races when it comes to social situations is a very unlikely King. To me a King should be more like Leonidas or Beowulf, not a quiet and simple minded wind up doll like OOT/MM or TP Link.

Again..its my theory that in game OOT Link being in such an awkwardly strange and bizarre situation as ruling a kingdom wouldn't even want to pursue Kingship in the first place. Thank goodness I'm a Malinker anyway.

Thanks for saying we're stupid and blind, it's appreciated.
Where's your evidence anyway? And I don't get the Peter Pan example.

NO NO NO!! I didn't mean to imply anyone here is stupid. That came out wrong.

I just said Peter Pan in relating to fairy tale fanfic logic. As for the evidence..Well mainly because its generally accepted by most Zelda fans who are not crazy or delusional, including myself, that in game OOT and TP Link are identified as QUIET LONERS and not someone with the royal leadership skills that Zelda or even a more qualified Hyrule nobleman would have. Just because Link has basic social skills to help people doesn't mean he is qualified to rule Hyrule. It only means he likes to help people and nothing more.

Sure its a good attribute to have IF he does become King but that doesn't automatically mean he is actually qualified to be King. The logic just doesn't add up. This fanfic fairy tale logic that Link can be a King with Zelda spoiling and pampering him as this generally quiet trophy wind up doll who can go ride around with Epona whenever he feels like it is ridiculous IMO. With Link being a quiet loner type its more likely that he would be uncomfortable with an awkward leadership position as King and probably would not actively pursue such a thing IMO.

When it comes to being a King MAYBE WW Link could be one because he seems to have a more outgoing personality and could possibly talk his way to being a King when he grows up. Also Manga and cartoon Link seem that they could socially talk their way to being a King as well. But in game OOT/TP Link as quiet loners...VERY doubtful.

Really, it'd behoove you to very thoroughly think about what you may or may not be implying in your posts. The bolded text is offensive, really. I still don't see OoT!Link as a loner. He's social... not a social butterfly, but certainly not "quiet". He was only an outcast in Kokiri Forest, but it seems that he had no trouble fitting in with his own kind later on in the game. He even fit in quite well in Termina.

And TP!Link a loner? How on earth did you come to that conclusion? He's very, very popular in his village! The kids look up to him, especially Colin. Beth has a little crush on him, it seems. Ilia undoubtedly shows feelings for him. He trains under Rusl and is a ranch hand for Fado. Everybody in the village is buddy-buddy with him. I see him as the most social Link to date, TWW/PH!Link and TMC!Link following close behind.

And of course none of the Links have "royal leadership skills". But you have to use your brain here- do you honestly think each Zelda was born with these skills? No, of course not. They all had to be taught. Link isn't stupid- he could learn. Like I've mentioned before, it'd make a joint ruling possible.

Don't you think that's an insult to Princess Zelda? Who says she'd spoil and pamper him? That's following the stereotype that royalty is OMG SO SPOILED!!! No. When has Zelda herself ever portrayed the behavior of a spoiled person? Never, not a single time in the history of the series. Do you really think she'd be so shallow as to see or even treat him as a trophy? Zelda would never behave in such a way. If Link was king, he'd have that option to travel. He'd have the freedom he needs as well as a country and a wife to come home to. Zelda could take care of the kingdom in the meantime. If she wanted to go with him, they could leave somebody in charge (there's a term for that, I just don't know what it is).

I understand your love for MaLink (really, I do. I ship them as well), but it sounds to me like you're trying to make Zelda look like a coldhearted, spoiled brat. ;_;

True TP Link was more popular in the village but his gentle personality type loner or not is someone that I can't picture being a King at all. And I am using my brain here. A commoner is not mentally equiped to be a King as a royally educated person would be in being raised in the Hyrule court. Link is smart but not that smart. Solving relatively EASY puzzles does not make Link this genius who can just pick up ruling a kingdom so easy as you say it is.

So this Zelink theory that Zelda will think its a cute and adorable PR campaign to make the mascot of the common people/diverse races of Hyrule a King is beyond ridiculous and very unrealistic. A royal lifestyle is more than just ceremonial fluff of royal balls, festivals, and tender moments in the royal courtyard.

So its unrealistic for Link to try to live this unbelievable double life as King/Feudal Knight. I still see OOT/MM Link in a LinkxZelda as royal advisor at best but most definitely not a King due to background and personality reasons that Link would probably be uncomfortable in such an unlikely position.

EDIT: I don't think OOT Zelda is a brat but she seems to have a girly girl side to her personality who might think its cute to spoil and coddle Link sometimes and go "Oh Link you look so cute and adorable when you politely nod in obedience to me TEE HEE". But all in all she still is the wise and all knowing princess always giving Link sagely wisdom and guidance

TLoZ isn't realistic anyway. Embrace the fantasy- it's there for a reason. I really don't see Link having a hard time adapting to such a position. Being a king and an adventurer at the same time wouldn't force him to live a "double" life. Not at all. Other royalty in stories have traveled and fought, etc., so why can't Link? If you already haven't, play FF9, FE: Ankoku Ryu to Hikari no Ken, FE: Path of Radience (most FEs have some sort of royalty fighting), Prince of Persia, Super Paper Mario, etc. You'll see. And, if he did in fact have real love for Zelda, then I see that as even more reason for him to make that effort.

Why would Link ever "politely nod in obedience"? WHY? What makes you think that he'd have to be obedient to Zelda? Why would Zelda want him to be that way? He's not a pet, and it would be totally out of character for any Zelda to treat him as such.

As far as I'm concerned, Link as a king wouldn't involve having to stand around looking good, it'll be an active duty that'll make him run around Hyrule whenever something goes out of place, and things often go out of place in Hyrule.
If he feels he doesn't feel good talking to people, he'll leave it to Zelda. Hyrule doesn't show disrespect for female authority.
In my opinion he would be able to socially stand his ground, though.
In-game OoT Link/MM is a child in mind, if we stick to in-game Link he wouldn't even be hooked up with Malon. He's yet to understand the types of affection he feels and how they're related to his body when he was an adult (assuming he felt something besides ''omg I don't want to get married!'').

News flash: Intelligence is related to how fast we learn things, not how much we know. Therefore, no matter how educated a nobleman can be, he can still be pretty dumb. In those cases, the advisors behold all the power. With decent education on what's what in politics, and since Link is a fast learner that doesn't get destabilised by new events, he would make a better king than said nobleman.
On the puzzles' easiness: they might be for us, but in reality they're supposed to be hard, really hard, since they're there to discourage any Hyrulians. If in Hyrule, they were truly that easy the Master Sword would've been found by a random castle employee in no time in Wind Waker before Hyrule was submerged.
Sure, doesn't mean Einstein could rule Europe, but the puzzles are easy for the player (or else most of us would stop playing), not for the in-game characters.
Link's lonely identity is frankly forced upon him, since he must always confront enemies on his own (sometimes sidekicks help, but even Midna admitted he was truly a lone hero).
He still seeks company. As a ''scary scary'' wolf in TP he still tries to be accepted by people.
I do tend to stick a ''lonesome'' sticker on his forehead, but it's more often then not forced on him by destiny.

Zeruda has a point on Zelda (and everything else, but let's talk Zelda). It's not because a girl (rightfully) has a girly side that it means she'll treat her loved-one as a puppet.
In what I've seen, they're usually the ones who tend to accept their guy's independance the most.

And we should erase the dreaded fanfics from our minds. It's not because Zelda tends to tee-hee Link a lot in fics that she'll treat him as a puppy in Nintendo's version of romance.
I think if she ever tee-hees at him, it won't be for nodding or lame schnitz like that but rather for actually fun stuff.
As children.
I can't imagine adult Zelda starting to go tee-hee on anything, especially not a Link that agrees with her.
Since Zelda is one that's always suggested as a princess who manages to see everyone are equals, not inferior beings, I doubt she gives a f*ck about obedience.


And no one spoke about a mascot campaign, wtf.
The races accept Link as a hero, heck even the Gerudos like Link, and they're a tough tribe. His legend is known throughout Hyrule, there's no need in a popularity campaign. What makes me think he didn't become king is because I'm guessing we would've heard about it in the legends, ''the hero who became king''. But even if he did decide to become his own person, not ''Hyrule's hero'', and demand kingship, the leaders of the races already know about him.
If Link wants the throne, he'll know it won't be about standing next to the princess and looking good. In fact, the only reason that makes me believe he would wish to become king is to HELP OUT Zelda. If he loves her that much, he'll carry the weight with her. I can't imagine him being the type to just wish to stand around looking at his loved one, he's the type who wants to act even when the task seems impossible (*cough*moonfalling*cough*). The only one secluding him into a life of royal luxury is your imagination.
Besides, unlike princess Peach, Zelda is all about dealing with the harsh realities of politics, not having tea with neighboring countries.

Ok, I was chatting with someone while writing this so if my syntax, grammar and whatnot make no sense, don't feel like I'm insulting your intelligence.
Also, I'm on my nerves these days so if I sound harsh, it wasn't with the intention to start a war.
Just -trying- to argue.
*Blinks*

And I had other points in mind I just can't seem to remember. I hate tiredness.