Defending the Princess, Why Zelda?

I'm sure he's well spoken enough, but it's true he's not the type to pride himself with sexual conquests.
Thing is there's no empty space between the ladies' man and the guy afraid of sex and I believe Link in love is somewhere between those standards.
I think he'll stay modest and perhaps hesitate if the girl he chooses is Zelda (she comes with a manureload of responsibilities), but if he has everything to believe his choice his the right one he'll take his chance.
Probably kinda boldly.
Or he'll be the opposite and think too much, but since I'm one to make Link try to jump a cliff before stopping and seing if there's a bridge... nuff said.
Nintendo insists so much on ''evolution'' (from regular ''nobody'' to ''hero'' ) that Link becoming a real man isn't farfetched at all. They often (if not always) stop at ''cliffhangers'' after all, Link is often if-not-always seen readying up for another adventure/exil/home-coming? that it's an invitation to continue his evolution the way we imagine it. Otherwise, they would've shown the typical ''feelin' good'' story: he clearly goes home and trusts he's done his job.
Instead he's always restless and seems to be searching for ''himself'' (hey, the game is still Asian, and they're big on that kind of stuff).
For me, it's a hint the boy has done his world-saving, but he still has to work on himself. After all, in every case he keeps solving everyone's problems and never get to stop and look at himself.
So I believe that no matter what anyone thinks he is in the game (using the same details, it seems we all have our different realities. sheesh, it's religion class all over again), he's yet to become a full man, but he WILL mature and take his rightful place. ..Whatever his rightful place his.
And anyway since TP Link is 16, living all his life in a small village with as his only possible love interest being a girl who seemed a little too ''motherly'' IMO and since OoT Link is 19 at best, but still actually a child in mind, I think it's unfair to put a permanent label on them both.

In-game wise, I'm actually against romance. In those two games anyway. TP Link has at least three choices and he doesn't clearly make a choice and let's not start with OoT Link. He's done his job, thank you and good night.
The romance comes from the possible evolution he'll experience once he can stop thinking about everyone around him and start looking at his own belly button, and that's not in-game.

I sound like a broken mp3.


My version of ZeLink romance is never saying ''I love you''. That's boring. And often unnecessary unless it's the angsty type where they have angsty doubts and then say ''I love you'' just before leaving the other to the other love-interest and-anyway-I'm-not-that-much-into-angsty-love-fics.
Trophy boyfriends are disgusting pieces of sexism, no matter how much fluff they use. Once read a fanfic like that: it was funny, it was a comedy. But as something meaning to be ''romantic'', I hate it as much as ReDeads.

I agree. For me its like the way I want Link to be and the way he is in the game are two totally different things. But in defending the princess I think Zelda has more than an equal chance to end up with Link as Malon, Ruto, or Saria do. Its just IMO IN GAME Zelda would have a better chance if she initiates the courtship/romance. But if Link is well spoken enough as you say then it would not be a problem in any theoretical romance.

I generally agree with you on the trophy boyfriend theme in some of the fanfics & theories involving just about every pairing. But I have no problem with the trophy boyfriend in theory. Its just it would likely vary pending on who Link hooks up with. The royal types (Zelda, Midna, Ruto) or the commoner types (Illia, Malon). So I agree with you in a sense that its sexist but in the more G-rated fairy tale TEE HEE versions I don't think Link being a trophy boyfriend is intended to be sexist at all IMO.

No, it's not their intention. Those fics are more ''ideal fluff'' than anything.
I do admit that I never last long with those fics.

I suffocate at the idea of Link being stuck behind castle walls and pampered anyway. It's just so wrong in my mind. I'm a ZeLink, but I like it complicated. I like Link wishing for either freedom or the authority to rule next to Zelda. I like wars and/or socio-political struggles. But anyway, it doesn't hurt anyone.

Ditto on that one. Whoever Link hooks up with, I prefer him to have more of an assertive well spoken personality that will never allow ANY love interest to treat him as the idealistically over polite trophy boyfriend. The concept of a boyfriend who is expected to allow the theoretical love interest to keep him submissive & obedient at all times is just plain wrong IMO.

I can't see Link being submissive in any relationship, be it friendship or romance. It's just not in the nature of a monster-slaying hero, no matter how strong or gentle (inwardly and outwardly) he may be.

Of course, that doesn't mean he won't start out (or even stay) submissive in some areas. Losing his virginity (not trying to be a perv), he might be a bit submissive, depending on who it's with. Admitting his feelings... maybe submissive, maybe not. But further into a relationship, I can see him being quite assertive, but not overpowering. I think he'd be more for equality mainly, but I still think that he'd want to be dominant.

I agree 100% with you Zeruda. I can accept how some fanfic authors portray Link as the always submissive sweetheart with vast amounts of boyish innocence. But IMO if Link is to be a realistic full man, he would probably want to be treated as an equal at least, in whatever romantic relationship he chooses.

I can see in game OOT or TP Link being a perfectly kind & gently soft spoken sweetheart who willingly allows himself to be dominated in a romantic relationship, but thats definitely not my own perception of a mentally mature Link at all. And I would like to think that Zelda would treat Link with mutual respect whether as a close best friend or a romantic lover and never treat him as an adorable trophy for lame excuses to go TEE HEE.

Nintendo's Zelda franchise being about fantasies, fairytales and modesty, I believe ''dominance'' is something that can go screw itself while I still care.
Sure, there'll always be conflicts related to that in all relationships, but I don't think Link and Zelda would try to ''dominate'' each other nor do I think they'll like to see the other submissive in any way.
Both Links do have their unusual amount of childishness, but I just can't imagine a serious relationship being all ''tee-hee he rolled over''.
The most ''serious'' relation TP Link had while still having his innocence was with Midna, and although she did boss him around (she knew a lot more than he did after all, so she took advantage of that), he was capable to give her a piece of his mind when she was just too rude (well, he growled. He could've whinned, but they made him growl, nuff said IMO).
I'm thinking when he reaches adulthood and finds a woman who won't give him the urge to read Freud, he'll be assertive enough to be his own man. Without having to make his girl submissive in the process.

P.S. I respect Link X Ilia, it's just that I've really seen her more as 'motherly' the very first time I've seen her (well, when she scowled him for Epona) than a possible love interest.


Yup, saying the same thing as the two posts above, just maybe one or two details that are different.
I am well aware.

...Dominance is overrated. A couple isn't forced to be an office job with a boss on one side and a secretary on the other.
Link showing signs of being hardheaded and Zelda having a vast knowledge of things, submission isn't an option.
Only maybe if conflict arises,
and conflicts inside fanfics are a lot more fun than ''Link, wear a tuxedo tonight'', ''yes ma'am'' *sigh*.
Nuuuuu:
''Can you please wear the tuxedo?''
''Is it the one that actually allows me to move?'' *doubtful stare*
And of course it's not. An assassin is lurking, Link needs his freedom. But tonight is a special night, he must look gooood but what he considers ''comfortable'' are the muddy rags he brought back from the annual hunt the day before.
A small conflict ensues. Who will prevail? Who will submit? The tuxedo or the tunic? The ''you must look good or our guests will be uselessly alarmed by the unusual sight'' or the ''they'll be plenty alarmed when someone dies because I couldn't move''?
Will the assassin's job be made easier?
Or a whole lot harder?
What's that noise behind you?
Stay tuned, or not.

Yeah..I wouldn't want OOT or TP Link to be the simple minded sweetheart who politely nods to his girlfriend when she tells him to roll around for her own amusement. (Nods in agreement)

I have a very similar perception of a Link as you do with a lot of freedom. The only difference is I see more of that freedom of the Hero who still rides around with Epona in Malink plain and simple. I agree that Zelda understands Links need for adventure and thats exactly why in my own personal theory they will remain as close best friends and Link will settle down to a simple lifestyle living at the ranch. To put my theory in simple terms LinkxMalon = humble feudal knight with the FREEDOM to ride around with Epona.

But if Link does choose to take on royal responsibility to be a King ruling by Zelda's side going by your own theory, yes..I think he would be able to eventually adapt to castle life and the royal responsibility that comes with it. But I don't agree with the unlikely freedom of a double life as King/Feudal knight unless Zelda pampers Link like a spoiled child so he can go riding around with Epona whenever he feels like it.

You can give me the counter arguement that farmwork is real hard. My counter arguement is that Link is responsible and physically strong. So manual labor is a trivial issue when it comes to the freedom Link will have with riding around with Epona doing heroic deeds in my theoretical LinkxMalon. I'm just not convinced Link would have that exact same freedom in a LinkxZelda unless Zelda pampers him and allows him to shirk royal responsibilities.

Sure, being a knight gives more freedom than being a king, but still not enough in my opinion. Still has the responsibilities towards his land and since Hyrule is real big, if he still wants to help everyone he can, he'll have to ditch any thoughts of a sedentary life.
I do prefer the thought of him taking Malon away, I'm sure she won't mind. Well, she's needed at the ranch.. bah, there are more important things in life than cows.

Yes, Link can do all the manual work he wants, but as far as I'm concerned that often takes all day, or most of the day, and unless he doesn't sleep he won't be able to go ride around Hyrule anyway.
He could see go to the castle when Malon delivers the milk to train with other knights and soldiers.
He could talk with the princess while he's there in order to make sure everything is alright.
Since this is a fairytale-like game, I can imagine how he'll live it without any problems, but if we want to stay ''realistic'', he'll have to ditch sedentarity if he still feels the need to see Hyrule.
Guessing if he decides to settle down with Malon, it'll be because Hyrule is at times of peace and there won't be any need to travel all that much anymore.
Yup, him being with Malon is more probable.
But I like it complicated.

Thats all I needed to read in the first place. But your sedentary arguement only applies to a rural lifestyle in the 19th and 20th century. Since even the most ditziest and dumbest fans can see that OOT is in a medieval setting, Link marrying Malon will not be this stupid fanfic caricature idea of a dumb cowboy with spurs and chaps herding and taking care of hundreds of head of cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens. Since its obviously clear that there is not nearly that much livestock at the ranch anyway, there is no way menial manual labor will prevent Link from serving the royal family/hyrule court as a KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR whenever he would be called upon to do so. I miss debating you Clockwork as well as my other Zelink buddies. Anyway try to make a rebuttal on that one girls. Miss Ya

Believe me when I say you can't just give cows hay and leave them there for the rest of the day.
Though Malon, Ingo, her father, don't -need- his help and he can easily go left and right without worry.
But on what's acceptable in a Zelda world, seeing its medieval setting, is another debate.

I don't think he ends with with Zelda in OoT, or otherwise we would've heard of the Hero -who became king- in Wind Waker, not simply 'the Hero'. Doesn't stop me from supporting the couple, though few fanfics describe it the way I imagine it.

I've not the mind to debate much these days. Work, work, work. When I can, I play or I read, write, draw. -When- I can. Rest of the time, I like leaving my mind devoid of everything.

Good to here from you again. But yeah..I'm glad you come to understand that my version of Malink is not Link being a dumb cowboy tied down to invisible amounts of manual labor. The actual amount of livestock at the ranch does not warrant that much manual labor unless we are to believe Link is irresponsible for some odd reason. So yeah Malink = Link living the life of a knight on horseback without needlessly made up complications that would prevent him from doing so.

In the Adult Timeline, its undeniable canon that Link DOES NOT end up with Zelda or anyone for that matter since Zelda sends Link back to the Child Timeline with his virginity still intact. I think Zelink is possible in the Child Timeline, but I don't see Link as a married King. It would be that they are either secret lovers in a forbidden romance or he is Zelda's pet ornament lover in a publicly known unmarried relationship. I prefer the former over the latter when it comes to Zelink of course.

I've been gone for awhile, but again- MalonsLover, just because someone isn't around to watch you every minute doesn't mean you can continually break the rules and ignore what I've asked you not to do. Enough with the fixation on sex- I fail to understand what Link's virginity has to do with whether or not he loves Zelda, sex does not equal love. Not only that, but you're way off topic here. You're warning level is going up another notch. Everyone, please, stay on topic. We are supposed to be defending Zelda, not arguing Malink vs Zelink. ~Alantie