Friendship = Love ?

The title of this forum had me thinking, along with many arguments and one terrific article written for ZeldaInformer. ( This last page of it in particular: http://www.zeldauniverse.net/content/view/1131/257/1/12/ )

I'm sure we all can agree that Link and Zelda are friends: even a Malon x Link or anything else pairing fan would have a hard time denying that, IMO.
But where do we make the distinction that Link and Zelda would mutually agree to stay platonic vs romantic?

I think it's one thing that's impossible to nail down concretely. But I've seen someone wisely say before: " "It's hard to imagine Link showing such dedication to a woman without having an inkling of romantic interest in her." If they are already close friends, knowing each other intimately, I think the chances of a successful and timeless romantic relationship developing are high.

Overall, I often come across the idea of completely seperating business and the heart: Link should have a love interest seperate from his Hero's duties. I dislike it immensely, I feel Link is led by his heart in his duty and his romantic sentiments would have to fall alongside that, rather than outside.

So, thoughts?

In reality, it's difficult to suppress all emotions. So unless the creators are trying to make Zelda unrealistic (which I highly doubt they want), then romantic feelings are inevitable for Link as far as Zelda goes.

Doesn't romantic feelings start with friendships in the first place?

And I think part of the reason why Link follows through with his heroic duties is because he has some sort of love for Hyrule and probably even Zelda. Otherwise he would have no passion for it.

I fully agree in that: a husband or wife ideally should always be the best friend first and foremost as well. The one person you can open your heart completely to and drop your guard. Having that exist without love seems unlikely, IMO. And it tends to be exclusive...if Link and Zelda already have this intimacy I could never see Link falling for another woman.

The first thing that brings to mind is TP. I saw a lack of passion in Link in some parts, and he seemed to waver mainly when Ilia was involved. When her amnesia was confirmed in Kakariko, he looked like he wanted to cry until Telma gently reminded him of the pain ALL Hyrule was feeling. That there was a world bigger than him.
IMO, that was seeing a Link who didn't love or know Zelda, and he seemed a different creature than the heroes of old. I definately agree that much of Link's passion in OoT/MM and WW seemed to stem from his desire to return to Zelda, or find her. Why would that be mere friendship? If romance was elsewhere, I'd expect to find him torn, like in TP.

Quite frankly, I don't think that most people want to be told that they are wrong in choosing someone they "love" to dedicate their lives to. In the same vein, many Malinkers HATE being told that MalonxLink probably did not happen. Really, in most cases, people do not like being proven wrong.

As HyruleMaster said, many platonic friendships progress into romantic relationships. I'm not saying that always happens, but many times it does. Judging by what the OoT and MM mangas had to say about their relationship, I think we can be pretty confident that Zelda and Link ended up together.

Friendship is common ground for many long-lasting romantic relationships. So it's not impossible to think of a romance between Link and Zelda

I have to agree that, if Link and Zelda already have a close friendship, it's likely that it would bloom into something more. One of the biggest reasons that successful marriages last is because the couple are best friends.

It's inevitable that in OoT, Link and Zelda both become quite attached and close to each other. Their relationship would most likely result in one of the heart. However, in TP, there isn't much of a friendship bond... OR IS THERE? Yes, there is one, however, Link is blind to it. While he becomes closer with Midna, he's not quite aware (nor is the gamer) that Zelda is there with him the whole time.. in Midna. It's not until the end of the game that Zelda reveals that hers and Midna's hearts were as one. Whatever bond of friendship Midna developed with Link, so too did Zelda. It's possible that a love-relationship could form between the two later on, but it's not nearly as probable as it is in Ocarina of Time.

I think my question is still, "Why do people feel Link wouldn't fall for Zelda romantically over someone else?"

The way I see it, we have irresistable factors in play between them. First off, I don't think it's possible for any guy to be as close to someone as beautiful as Zelda without feeling attraction. And not just that, more than any other she exemplifies faith in him. That article of Hylian Dan's even likened her to considering Link as dear to her as he considers Navi. But in Link leaving for Termina, he essentially did the same to her as Navi did to him: he abandoned her. Does she resent him? Nope, but sends him off with faith instead. And this is just OoT/MM Zelda..there are many other Zelda's to consider. She's also his partner in crime as well as closest friend...he will never stand alone when she's there: that's got to mean alot to one man taking on the world.
Overall, I don't think many men could not fall in love with Zelda, let alone Link.

As for reasons why Link would choose another..I guess some feel that Ilia, Malon etc is more attainable, and will even throw themselves at him to make it even easier. They are cute, nice and friendly, and offer an easier time for a guy. But in my experience, it's rarely the girls who pursue guys who win them in the end. If Ilia did win Link, it would only be because she's his dearest friend and she DOES have alot of faith in him, regardless of how annoying I may find her.

It is very true that friendships can be a great basis for a great romance. I for one am a sucker for those kinds of romances. But I think it depends on the Link. For instance, Twilight Princess Link. He already has a great friendship with Ilia. And we already saw hints at a blossoming romance. That's not to say they ended up together. But makes me wonder why he would even bother to look outside that friendship/possibly something moreship when it obviously makes him happy to begin with? The higher calling he now has may or may not diminish Ilia's importance to him. He is a Hero now, yes. And has a duty to Hyrule, yes. But that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to go looking for a new romance when he's already got one back home.

If that makes sense.

And while, I am a sucker for friendships turned lovers romances, I don't think it would work in every case. It is very safe to say Link and Zelda are indeed great friends. But once you make that transition. Once you cross that line over into something more, everything changes. When you kiss your BFF on the mouth, it's safe to assume that you have a thing for them. And it could turn out to be the best or worst idea you've ever had. A romance in the friendship can either make it stronger or completely destroy it. As many times as it worked out, I've seen it fall apart completely and the two people end up hating each other's guts in the end.

Most people treat a lover differently than they treat a best friend. And how can you guarantee that this person is even going to act the same once you've crossed that line?

In all honesty, it's something Link and Zelda (or Link/Whomever) would have to weigh out carefully. Is it really worth risking a great friendship for something that could potentially have a volatile ending? Some people think the risk is worth it. Some don't. I guess it depends on how much you value that friendship.

It makes perfect sense. And while I can logically try to veto Link and Ilia, the heart doesn't listen to logic. He's already in love with her to a certain degree and Midna is long gone. The chances of him dumping Ilia cold and running off to Zelda are slim to none, IMO.

Oh well to TP. But on the bright side this same argument can be used to veto a MaLink thing for after MM. We have decently solid grounds to believe Link already HAD a thing for Zelda, why would he start something with Malon?

But what if the interest in something more was already there? It's possible to start a mere friendship with someone even though attraction is there from the start for both or one. In that case, it's a totally different situation. Dealing with Link and Zelda, I think it's pretty clear in many cases that there's also attraction going on underneath the surface, it just hasn't been spoken into more even if they treat each other as more already. To me, that pretty much sums up the average Link x Zelda relationship in nearly all the games: Unspoken.

However, since we seldom see a third member seriously enter into the picture, it doesn't come out. I imagine that if Zelda started spending copious amounts of time with another man, Link would certainly react.

If it's the above like I believe ( unspoken relationship from the start ) it would merely be honesty to bring it out into the open. It may actually be a relief in that case.

Dealing with the theoretical like your above: I personally feel honesty will always be worth it. It may change the friendship irrevocably, but having unspoken feelings held back for fear can cause much misery later. Say for instance the beloved starts a relationship with another, the lover will be regretful. If the lover starts a relationship while still truly being in love with the beloved...it's a lie. It's better IMO to be truthful from the start.

It makes perfect sense. And while I can logically try to veto Link and Ilia, the heart doesn't listen to logic. He's already in love with her to a certain degree and Midna is long gone. The chances of him dumping Ilia cold and running off to Zelda are slim to none, IMO.

Oh well to TP. But on the bright side this same argument can be used to veto a MaLink thing for after MM. We have decently solid grounds to believe Link already HAD a thing for Zelda, why would he start something with Malon?

I already apply everything I just said about the Link/Ilia relationship to MaLink. So it doesn't really debunk anything for me, lol.

If something was already there to begin with, then I do agree that things would be different.

I was talking in terms of simply being friends at the beginning. And as time goes on, something develops between them.

Unspoken feelings can cause a lot of hurt. But what is the beloved to do if she/he doesn't return the feelings of the lover? That'll cause more heartache than simply remaining quiet about it. It's a hard decision either way, but sometimes keeping quiet is the best thing you can do.

It's beating a dead horse, but I don't think the games themselves gave us the grounds to put Malon romantically on par with Ilia. Saria, yes however. I would be glad to start the debate back up in the Malon thread anytime, but I'll leave it be here.

If the lover can truly keep quiet and leave it, then that works. It's when they can't keep silent ( especially later ) that problems arise. I'm speaking from personal experience in having this happen. My long time friendship with a guy friend was not too long ago irrevocably altered because he came out and admitted his previous feelings. I am now married, and my result was to be angry because I felt betrayed: why hadn't he told me when I was available? All these times we spent together, did he have secret intentions? If he had been honest long ago our friendship may have suffered, but not to the extent it has now. I can never open up and trust him like I did.

So, I suppose this only supports the "keeping quiet" side, but I still think honesty in the beginning is the best.

I totally agree with trying to be honest in the first place.
Gosh... Link must have a lot of trouble if he's trying to figure this stuff out.

I'd like to note that in TP, Illia says that she'll wait for Link back home. I know most people would believe that he'll go home, and tell Illia everything and how he feels about her ( I love you and all that jazz) but, it might not have been the case. See, they were childhood friends, so they are really close. That doesn't mean that he and Illia should marry. Sure, he's got a great friendship with Illia, but that might just be it. They're great friends. So, for Illia, friendship might not = Love.

I'm only saying this because on youtube, there was a video of the "Return of Link/Zelda". It showed many reasons why Zelink is perfect. It didn't say much about duty, and there were some exagerated evidence, but most of it made sense. There is a lot more evidence than Link/Illia and Link/Midna.

PS: It was an awesome video

PPS: I don't think Malon is romantically on par with Illia, either.

The mangas are NON CANNONICAL just like the Zelda cartoon is non cannonical. EXCUUUUSE ME PRINCESS

To me using the mangas to dismiss a possible LinkxMalon is the same thing as using the crappy 80's Zelda cartoon to support LinkxZelda. I rest my case

The mangas are NON CANNONICAL just like the Zelda cartoon is non cannonical. EXCUUUUSE ME PRINCESS

To me using the mangas to dismiss a possible LinkxMalon is the same thing as using the crappy 80's Zelda cartoon to support LinkxZelda. I rest my case

I would like to point out that the OoT/MM mangas are about to be brought over from Japan to America - http://www.vizkids.com/products/manga/. The only way for them to be officially translated and brought over is for Nintendo to authorize it - which means that they are canon now. A year or two ago, no, the mangas were not canon. But now they are.

On another point, your posts have been consistently, phenomenally rude. I am able respect your opinions, but all respect is lost when you become as ungracious as you have been. All we ask is that you respect our Zelink opinions, and we will respect your for yours. There are other Malinkers on here and we are all able to agree to disagree on various points - there are no reasons for irrational bashing.

I don't mean to come off rude. I just like to get a good old fashioned debate going thats all. BTW I'm not against a LinkxZelda in the Child Timeline so I have a little ZeLink in me myself though I don't want to show it. I'm just trying to stick up for my girl Malon thats all. To me there needs to be a little balance around here in these forums and I'm here to do just that.