Twilight Princess, Link and Zelda

Many tend to believe that since Zelda only appears in TP a few times that the relationship between them is not very strong. Well, Bill Trien of Nintendo said "Just because it doesn't happen on screen doesn't mean it never happens." This in itself means that there were more interactions between the two behind the scenes; it's like an underlying message waiting to be plucked from what we read and hear in literal terms. If you ask me, there are several hints throughout the game that allow you to see that Link and Zelda have feelings for one another. You just have to pay really close attention to their "few" encounters, which means you have to go through the game a couple of times to do so. One of the scenes includes their first encounter with one another, when Link is growling like a ferocious beast until Zelda turns around, startled. Once he catches a glimpse of her he walks up to her, as if a puppy, and Midna rolls her eyes, grinning. Midna's reaction is the real hint, as she knew that their would be an imediate connection between Link and Zelda.

Another scene would be at the end, when they are gazing at one another, only to be rudely interupted by Ganondorf's reappearance as a spirit. There are other scenes, but it would take forever to type.

I'm torn with TP. I'd like to ship ZeLink, and I do, but I saw so little between them in comparison to Midna and Ilia. I'm actually pretty annoyed at the dev's for that...they led us with interviews to believe we'd finally see the long hoped for ZeLink, but wasted our time with the other girls.

Ilia I think was strongly focused on, but she's by definition a "before" girl, and doesn't fit into Link's new life. While I think Link having a pre-existing relationship is realistic, it just served to make him torn and reluctant: I don't think Ilia really has a place in Link's life after the adventure.

Midna seemed alot closer to the standard ZeLink, IMO ( the comparisons to Tetra can't be missed ) but they slammed that door in the end. However, I do feel Midna's similarity to Zelda could be a door to a future ZeLink relationship. I'm not sure: you can't fall in love with one person and automatically love the similar person...love in my experience isn't logical like that.

I think the ZeLink in TP mainly consists of a connection and potential; I saw a connection and if Link sought out wisdom and direction from her AFTER the adventure, thye may become close. I do think they had chemistry. Like you said, the fact that Midna's reactions were underscoring their connection seems a blatant hint...I'm more apt to believe a secondary character noticing a connection than being outright told Link likes someone, for the fact that Nintendo would never seriously presume to tell us how Link ( we ) feel.

Overall, I think the ZeLink was at it's weakest, but Zelda's the only one who fits after the adventure. He's not going to go back to Ordon and become it's mayor like the manual suggested he originally wanted( or a goatherd like he was before ) It just doesn't fit, IMO. Link is destined for greatness, and I think he'll only be able to truly fulfill it at Zelda's side.

The Twilight Princess incarnations of Link and Zelda are really the only incarnations of Link and Zelda that I ship. However it does present a minor problem. Since it is believed that Link and Zelda got together in OoT and this is more or less a sequel (or at the very least set within the same timeline as OoT), I think this would make TP Link and Zelda distant relatives as it is implied that this Link is a descendant of the Hero of Time. And I assume it's pretty safe to say that TP Zelda is a descendant of OoT Zelda. And I think that's why they didn't have anything outright. As a matter of fact, Link and Zelda really seem to keep each other at arms length as it seems Link's affections lie with Midna.

Again, there is more that happens off the scenes that what is shown directly on screen. I personally seen more between Link and Zelda, to tell you the truth. And as far as them being related... I don't believe in that. TP is NOT, I repeat, is not a sequal of OoT, and such was stated by the game designers themselves. They are not related; they never have been and never will be.

Not WW, Saami? ( on a side-topic, I'm merely curious )

Yes, I can see that problem with Link and Zelda. They do even look somewhat alike, and I have a hard time looking at the Zelda of TP without being reminded of the Hero of Time, through her demeanor and such. I do agree that the relation is *distant* though...we're talking hundreds of years, so they could be 10th cousins or such. Enough time to allow a second child's bloodline to branch off into commoners and lead to TP Link's parents while the oldest child's line maintained the throne. If enough time has passed, genetics is no longer an issue to hinder romance. Since I believe in other Link/Zelda pairings, I think this is also the case if we have relation.

I've never thought that this could be the reason why we have Link/Zelda ever kept apart in a game though, I don't think the dev's allow timeline to dictate the storyline.
I did most definately see Link x Midna developed throughout the game though rather than ZeLink.

Edit: to Twilight Mistress: I recall reading Aunoma saying these two were not related to the previous pair, but that was when I think they were still going with TP being between OoT and WW. If you believe the Hero's Spirit IS post-MM Link, he does seem to strongly imply him and Link have a relation, though it could well be only metaphoric in that they share the Hero's call. Zelda I would say it's likely as royalty is typically hereditary with documented lines going back hundreds of years.

I don't really ship anyone in WW. Though I do agree that ZeLink is adorable. But I think I'm leaning toward Medli/Link for the simple fact that she's adorable. <3 Actually, I'll probably end up shipping both pairings since I like both of them.

I don't think their possibility of being related would hinder their romance either, as at least a hundred years have passed, which I believe is ample time for genetics not to be a problem.

And yet, if it is the case just the thought of anything incestuous, whether they are distant relatives or not, just kind of creeps some people out.

I like Medli alot too, if there was a "competing" love interest in WW it'd be her...but I obviously ship Link/Zelda. ( PH helps with that..it's even cuter than in WW )
I always thought Medli was cute with Komali.

Yeah, I've seen the argument " Link and Zelda can't get together because it's INCEST!!" lots of times, and I get annoyed each and every time. I can't help but feel it's in lieu of really saying " I don't like Link and Zelda together". You only get genetic problems if relatives keep marrying each other and they are all related, which I recall hearing was a problem in some European monarchies at one time. I don't think Link and Zelda will ever be related closely enough to matter.

Anyways back to TP Link and Zelda. Despite how little was portrayed, I can't help but like them together. It's mainly because of nostalgia for other Link/Zelda's but I feel he belongs with her, I just can't see a better alternative despite how much the game forced Link and Ilia.
I totally love playing through the ending with Link beside Zelda in the Magic Armor btw. They look like a royal couple.

Really, they're not related. There may be similar things in both games, but that's like saying that all of the Zelda games in the making are related to one another when they are not. Just because they have similar elements in the story doesn't mean that they are related. That's like relating Macbeth to Hamlet in Shakespeare when clearly they are not related. Anyway, with Link and Zelda they are not connected by blood, close or distant. You cannot judge by appearances as people can have similar characteristics, even if they are not related by blood. So really, you can't go by that. And you cannot assume that it takes place after OoT, being that you have no evidence of this. The fact that the games have similar elements and characters does not make it so that it is a continuation of the story. Not only that, but WW is the official sequal to OoT.

Anyway, keep in mind that seeing is not believing but that believing is seeing. In other words, you can't formulate opinions based on what you see with the interactions Link has between Midna and Ilia. You have to look at the things that are not shown explicitly. You have to analyze and look deeper than what appears on the surface.

I don't believe they have to be related, I just think in this particular case, the evidence is there that supports it. In many other cases, not so much. WW explicitly says that WW Link is not connected to the Hero of Time, but Tetra is to OoT Zelda. ( Though there's still debate on that from some corners because of the Hero's Shield ) With the other games, it's up for debate.

Actually I do have official evidence, or the closest you can get: that quote from Aonuma.

" –When does Twilight Princess take place?

Aonuma: In the world of Ocarina of Time, a hundred and something years later.

–And the Wind Waker?

Aonuma: The Wind Waker is parallel. In Ocarina of Time, Link flew seven years in time, he beat Ganon and went back to being a kid, remember? Twilight Princess takes place in the world of Ocarina of Time, a hundred and something years after the peace returned to kid Link’s time. In the last scene of Ocarina of Time, kids Link and Zelda have a little talk, and as a consequence of that talk, their relationship with Ganon takes a whole new direction. In the middle of this game [Twilight Princess], there’s a scene showing Ganon’s execution. Link and Zelda left him be and he then did something outrageous, so it was decided that he should be executed. That scene takes place several years after Ocarina of Time. Ganon was sent to another world and now he wants to obtain the power... "

This quote basically proves the split timeline.

I agree about looking deeper...you have to look at the big picture: is a scene relevant to the overall situation? Saami may get upset at me for bringing Malon into this but take Cremia's hug for example: it's a totally superfluous reward, as well as random and optional, but I've seen it used it as evidence that Link is in love with Malon or will love her in the future. I say baloney to that opinion, because evidence of a deeper connection with Zelda was already present....where it never was with Malon.

And I also agree you have to a certain extent be looking for romance, it's seldom obvious. I just think we saw Link actually develop a relationship with Midna, and it was implicated with Ilia. With Zelda, there's a connection, IMO, but I find it hard to support in contrast to other games like OoT and WW, where it was overwhelming.
I want to look for ZeLink, but what I am saying is if you have to look TOO hard, than maybe it's not there. I could be wrong, but I still support ZeLink after TP, I think the potential is great, even if it wasn't shown too much in game.

Well, even if it does take place after the OoT, Link and Zelda do not relate to one another. If you think about it, TP Zelda is a strong character, heroic I would call her. Link, like the Link in WW, is just a hero called upon who was named after the hero. And there are several implications between Link and Zelda. I've already found them. Anyway...

Oh don't get me wrong, I don't want TP Link and Zelda to be related because I ship them. I don't really believe they are related because of my stance on OoT Link's future. I was only stating there was a possibility.

And just as a note: I wouldn't use the "Link and Zelda is related" as an excuse not to ship them. If I don't like it I'll just say I don't like it.

I think there is a lot of potential there. Link and Zelda definitely had a connection I think. It may not have started out as love as opposed to Princess and Hero. But after the fight, I don't think it unlikely that Link went back to see her. I like to think that he went to the castle library to read up on the Hero of Time. And Zelda keeping him company.

Alternately he does that same, but with Hena at the fishing hole. I love Link/Hena. But that's off topic. So yeah.

Well, at the end we see that Link leaves Ordon, riding Epona on horseback after laying the Master Sword to rest. Then we see the throne room. Might not seem like much, but this could be a very big hint *cough* *cough*. If you take and compare the endings to one another, TP ends rather in the same way as OoT; in Oot, Link lays the Master Sword to rest and we have an image of a castle, only that both Link and Zelda were seen in the courtyard. TP ended much in the same way, as it again ended with a castle scene. Hm... What are the odds? *hint hint* lol

And ya know... They wouldn't call it Zelda for no reason. The name of the game itself implies that there is a connection between the two. Since Link is the hero it indicates that Zelda, being that she is the one that the game is named after, is the one that is constantly on his mind; she is the one that he ultimately has to protect. And, because both are involved with the triforce, there is already mutual understanding that no one else would be able to have with Link. Even Midna doesn't really understand the full effects of the triforce. Well, that's my opinion.

Just because the game is called "The Legend of Zelda" doesn't really mean a thing. After all LA's official title is called "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening". And yet Zelda's only mentioned once and then never again. And it's strongly hinted that Link fell in love with Marin, who may look like Zelda, but is not Zelda.

I think eventually, "The Legend of Zelda" became just t a title. As the story isn't really about Zelda. For the most part, we don't really interact with her or even know what she's doing while Link's off being a hero. We follow Link and his struggle to save the world. Yes, Zelda is an important element to the story, but we're with Link every step of the way, which is why I think it should be "The Legend of Link". But I digress

In the ending scene, I think Link was riding off to see Zelda. Perhaps to get information on a new adventure. Or perhaps to simply see her. I don't know really. But I do think Link would spend time trying to find a way back to Midna. If he truly cared about her, I think he would at least attempt to find her. Like OoT's Link searched for Navi.

Well, Marin is like a parallel version of Zelda; same characteristics and personality while helping to guide him throughout the game, like Zelda. Also, when he "awakens" after being swept up on shore, he thinks that Marin is Zelda, meaning that they look exactly the same. Anyway, as far as the title, "The Legend of Link" doesn't really ring a bell. I think the name has more to do with the fact that Zelda is the central female character in the all of the games, despite her lack of appearances in some (along with Midna in TP). It just reinforced the fact that she is an important dynamic character throughout the game series.

This is where I have to strongly disagree. Marin =/= Zelda. Also Marin =/= a parallel version of Zelda. The only thing Marin has in common with Zelda is the fact that she looks like her. This is a dream of the Wind Fish. Marin is The Wind Fish's creation, not Link's. And just because they look exactly the same doesn't mean they ARE the same. Perfect example: Identical twins. Exactly the same in just about every way and yet are two completely different people.

Zelda isn't necessarily always the central female character. She wasn't in LA, Marin was. She wasn't in MM, I'd say Anju was. There are just sometimes when Zelda is simply not relative to the plot of the game. Therefore she is not included. Or her role is reduced.

The very first game was called "The Legend of Zelda". But the second game is called "The Adventure of Link". Most people are going to recognize the franchise because of "The Legend of Zelda". The game may bear her name. But it is Link's story.

Back on topic: I think Link and Zelda would work very nicely in Twilight Princess. For a time, Midna and Zelda were one. So perhaps Zelda fell in love while she watched Link go through everything for a person he barely knew.